The Royal Society recognises the increasing importance of providing training to all scientists to ensure they are equipped with the skills needed to communicate with a variety of audiences, whether it be students and scientists from other disciplines, or the media and mass public.
We offer one day communication skills courses and one day media training courses designed exclusively for scientists and uniquely tutored by leading journalists and science communication professionals, Judith Hann and John Exelby.
Which course?
The Communication skills course equips scientists with the skills to communicate their work on a non-technical level, clearly and confidently to a wide range of audiences.
The Media training course focuses specifically on the skills needed when communicating with the media. A hands-on approach, including real film crew, takes scientists with a basic knowledge of the media and increases their skill and confidence in preparing for radio and television interviews and in approaching the print media with news stories and features.
The courses are currently run at the Royal Society in London. Courses will also run in Autumn 2010 at the Kavli Royal Society International Centre, at Chicheley Hall in Buckinghamshire. Further details on these courses, which will be residential, will be available soon.
Dates for the courses are available on the individual course pages.
Is it for me?
- Both courses are open to all research scientists resident in the UK, including those placed in industry.
- Courses are run in small groups with a maximum of 12 delegates and take place throughout the year.
- Please note that around one and a half to two hours of preparation will be needed in advance of both courses. This will involve, for example, preparing a short presentation or article about your work and chosing a science based story from a newspaper or magazine to discuss.
What do I pay?
The cost of each course is £400, subsidised through the Royal Society.
The costs of the residential courses at the Kavli Royal Society Internation Centre will be published shortly.
Funding Opportunities
The Royal Society will fully subsidise Royal Society funded research fellows and professors to go on one of the courses, and a second course may be funded at the discretion of the Grants Section. Please contact the Grants Section directly with any queries.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is glad to participate in the training courses. If your research is funded by the STFC or you work in an area eligible for STFC funding you may be able to obtain a bursary. See the STFC webpage for further information and an application form. Please note that if you do obtain a bursary from the STFC there is no need to send payment for the course to the Royal Society.
Equally, EPSRC and The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 consider the Royal Society their preferred communication course provider. EPSRC researchers can request funding for public communication training as part of a research proposal. Further information can be found in the EPSRC funding guide and the About us section of the 1851 Royal Commission's website.
For enquiries about the courses or to contact us for more information please click here and chose 'Courses' from the drop down list.
Communication skills course at The Royal Society.
"The communication skills course was a fantastic opportunity to learn, practise and discuss ways of communicating my research to non-specialists. It was packed with tried-and-tested tips, useful advice and good individual feedback from Judith and John, who are inspiring examples of effective communicators and who made the day great fun. I now have the confidence to get in touch with schools and volunteer general talks, and I'm excited about sharing my science with a wide range of audiences!"
Dr Helen Johnson, Royal Society URF, University of Oxford.
Media training course at The Royal Society.
"The tutorial style one-day course is actually great fun. I found the three trial interviews extremely helpful, not only as training for actual media exposure, but also as an honest portray of personal quirks. Together with a host of helpful tips, how the most obvious errors in an interview are avoided, the course provides vital feedback and a toolbox, which will make you well prepared, should the need ever arise."
Professor Werner A Hofer, Royal Society URF, University of Liverpool.
"The Media Training course run by Judith Hann and John Exelby provided a unique opportunity to practice and improve my interview skills. The filmed interviews allowed me to identify the strengths and weaknesses in my own approach to dealing with the studio environment and with difficult or unexpected questions. In addition, John and Judith passed on many helpful pieces of practical advice about preparing for being interviewed, dealing with media companies, and attracting press interest in my research. I heartily recommend the Media Training course to all scientists whether he or she be an experienced interviewee or a scientist preparing to be interviewed for the first time - everyone will come away with useful tips and experience from attending this course."
Dr John Steele, Royal Society URF, University of Durham