Research Communication

Researchers at all career stages can get involved in research communication. Especially at the beginning of their academic career, research communication enables researchers to . . .  

• gather experience acting as experts in their field
• make contacts outside academia, which can be helpful when, for example, collaborating on projects or pursuing a nonacademic career later on
• demonstrate soft skills such as project management, mediation skills, and communication skills through actual project work
• prove experience in knowledge exchange between research and society when applying for funding.

Read on:

• “The benefit of science communication and science conference organization for graduate students”
• “Why scientists need to be trained in science communication”

Research communication is important for . . .

• researchers to get new ideas for their work, to make their research (results) visible, and to advance their career

• society to gain access to new research insights and to be able to put its own questions to and demands on science and scholarship

• universities to present their research activities and to attract potential early career researchers and new employees.

With research communication, you can . . .

• inform
• generate interest
• inspire enthusiasm for a topic
• come up with new ideas
• view your own research from a new perspective.

Read on:

• Science Communication Strategy by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
• “Why Science Communication, and Does It Work?” Review Article in Frontiers in Communication
• “Why science communication is an important (transferable) skill for researchers”

Research communication aimed at the general public is often not effective. The important thing is to keep a close eye on your own target group: Who do you want to address, and how do you best reach them? You can meaningfully narrow down the target group by using various criteria, for example:

• sociodemographic characteristics such as age, gender, place of residence, and income
• education and prior knowledge
• interest in the topic or in science and scholarship in general
• preferences or personal experience with a topic.

Read on:

• “How To Identify And Talk To Your Target Audience” by Stony Brook University’s Center for Communicating Science
• "Science for All? Practical Recommendations on Reaching Underserved Audiences" by Christian Humm & Philipp Schrögel

The research communication topics are potentially endless. Three different perspectives lend themselves to the search for a topic. If the focus is on . . .

• the research, you can describe and explain research questions, new insights, publications, and possible applications
• the research process and the people involved, you can introduce the research team and project, give insights into the “engine room,” and communicate your own motivation
• current societal issues, you can show points of contact to your research and classify current debates using your own expertise.

Read on:

• “12 examples of stunning science communication”
• “Scicom 101”
• “What Even Counts as Science Writing Anymore?” The Atlantic

Having a strategy at the outset will help you go about your activities efficiently and effectively. Key points:

• Content strategy: Determine communication objectives, content, and target groups.
• Format: Depending on the objective, different formats are appropriate for informing the general public, for engaging in dialogwith people outside academia, or for involving members of the public in research processes.
• Medium: There are many possibilities, such as your own podcast, an explanatory video, public lectures and discussion events, and social media.
• Feasibility: How much time and possible financial effort is required for this, and what impact can it be expected to have? Are the two reasonably proportionate?
• Own interests: Last but not least, you should keep your own preferences and strengths in mind when deciding on a communication format.

Read on:

• We offer a workshop program for the first steps in science communication as well as for more in-depth work with individual formats.
• Our funding opportunities help to put concrete project ideas into practice.
• “10 Tips for Effective Science Communication”
• Practical guides for science communication by Script