Association of Polar Early Career Scientists

 

The Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) and the University of the Arctic ran a joint science communication workshop in connection with the UArctic Congress 2018 in Oulu, Finland, from 3-4 September 2018. On the first day the participants worked with mentors on a range of communication techniques, including storytelling techniques (Jessica Rohde); producing videos in iMovie (Sonja Bickford); and using social media for science communication (Hanne Nielsen). Mentors also provided best practice advice on how to communicate science to policy makers and the public (Nate Bickford), and ways of communicating with the media (Markku Heikkilä).

APECS - UArctic 2018 Student Workshop from APECS Webinars on Vimeo.

The theme of knowing your audience was common across all three sessions. For those wanting to inform evidence-based policy, Nate Bickford stressed the importance of communicating with policy makers at a local level, and with policy advisors. During the social media session, Hanne Nielsen outlined a range of tools available on social media, from the academic-focussed Researchgate through to popular platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Participants were asked to consider how they “brand” themselves as researchers, and which networks they are a part of, and to then choose a platform that would help them reach their desired networks.

All participants developed an “elevator pitch” about their own research, and practiced explaining the significance of their work to each other. They then considered how they might alter the pitch when talking to a range of specific audiences, including policy makers, family members, and young children. In order to develop skills in both speaking to camera and editing video, these pitches were filmed. Participants then put their new skills into practice throughout the duration of the congress, tweeting from the sessions, and using their elevator pitches when explaining their research to other delegates.

The workshop culminated in the production of a video, which highlights the UArctic conference activities (including twitter activity), as well as the projects of several participants. The video, which was presented at the Helsinki welcoming reception on Thursday evening on September 6th, can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/295284697

Thank you to the mentors who helped make this workshop such a valuable learning opportunity, and to all the participants who communicated with a range of audiences throughout the #UArcticCongress2018 event!

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UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Huginbakken 14
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Email: info(at)apecs.is

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