Promoting yourself and communicating the value of your work

About the course

The course will be delivered in an interactive and participatory style, combining discussion, reflection and activity-based approaches. It will consist of two sections:

Promoting yourself:

This section will provide you with the knowledge and skills to build relationships that deliver for your career. The model for it is that your networking has to suit the way you work, and that conferences are a terrible way to meet people. You will focus on building relationships that build to positive personal and career outcomes, and avoid anything that feels like Pokémon (you don't have to catch 'em all).

The course will also consider case studies of researchers who have built professional and public profile, and the ways you can make yourself someone others would like to add to their networks.

What will you learn?

After this section you will:

• Have a plan for networking activities that suit your career and personality
• Know how to represent yourself effectively on social media and in professional way
• Learn to use your networking time in a focussed way, and not waste time

Communicating the value of your work: 

This second section is designed to improve your ability to communicate your research through in-person presentations. It will help you to think systematically about your presenting skills, and provide ways to improve every aspect. The course includes a section on designing information and results to achieve maximum impact, and an introduction to storytelling techniques.

The course will be delivered in an interactive and participatory style, combining discussion, reflection and activity-based approaches. 

What will you learn?

After this course you will know how to:

• Evaluate your presentation skills systematically and improve each area
• Create presentations for different audiences
• Use information design, storytelling, humour and slides as appropriate

Who is it for? 

This course is open to Royal Society-funded researchers and British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering or Academy of Medical Sciences-funded researchers.

Who is the tutor?

Dr Steve Cross is a freelance public engagement consultant, Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellow and former Head of Public Engagement at University College London. Steve has over 10 years’ experience in public engagement and specialises in supporting researchers to engage with diverse communities.

“Steve was informative and knowledgeable. This session provided creative ways and thinking that I wasn’t aware of before.”

“Steve was great – very engaging and with lots of good advice.”

“Such a change to have a personable, engaging presenter! Inspired lots of ideas, thanks.”

Upcoming dates

This course will be held on Wednesday 29 November 2023, 10am-4pm. 

How much does it cost? 

The course fee is covered for Royal Society-funded researchers and British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering or Academy of Medical Sciences-funded researchers.

Further training 

This course is part of our upcoming programme of public engagement training courses:

• Promoting Yourself and Communicating the Value of Your Work, Wednesday 29 November 2023
• Creatively Planning and Evaluating your Impact, Thursday 7 December 2023
• Storytelling for Researchers, Monday 29 January 2024
• Engaging Events, Wednesday 21 February 2024 (further details to be posted)

Please get in touch if you have any questions.