Ideas, insights, and resources
Our portal of insights and resources is full of useful tips, videos, and links to resources that we think you’ll find useful in your pursuit of excellent research communication.
Networking for Success: Strategies for Scientists and Researchers
Networking is an important skill for scientists and researchers, offering numerous benefits from collaboration opportunities to career advancement. Discover practical strategies to build a robust professional network.
Investing in Science Communication Training: The Business Case
Science communication training is a valuable investment for universities, businesses, and researchers. It enhances visibility, credibility, and collaboration, ultimately benefiting society and the environment.
Brand YOU: The Importance of Personal Branding for Scientists and Researchers
Personal branding isn’t just for celebrities and entrepreneurs. Scientists and researchers can also benefit from developing a personal brand, enhancing their credibility, visibility, and career prospects.
What is the difference between an Infographic and a Data Visualisation (DataViz)?
What is the difference between an Infographic and a Data Visualisation (DataViz)? Here’s our take on the two terms based on running hundreds of visual design workshops for scientists and researchers.
Presenting a scientific or research presentation? Here are some simple steps to help you improve your presence through body language and gestures.
Presenting a scientific or research presentation? Here are some simple steps to help you improve your presence through body language and gestures.
The Power of Tongue Twisters: Enhancing Your Scientific or Research Presentation Delivery
Delivering a compelling presentation requires more than just a well-crafted message; it demands clarity, confidence, and charisma. One effective yet fun way to enhance your presentation skills is through practicing tongue twisters. These playful phrases offer surprising benefits for articulation, speech speed, and relaxation.
The Power of Grids in PowerPoint Design: Enhancing Consistency and Engagement
When it comes to designing compelling PowerPoint slides, grids are an often overlooked but essential tool. Leveraging grids in your slide design can significantly enhance the clarity, engagement, and overall aesthetic appeal of your presentation. Here’s why grids are crucial and how they can transform your slides.
Inspiring researchers using story structures to add clarity to their communication
In the last week, I've been fortunate enough to run three workshops for researchers, all focused on how they can use story structures and narrative techniques to plan, shape and tell their stories. Two of those workshops were for the Society of Experimental Biology,...
Why do you want to communicate science? / SciComm Shorts Episode 01
In the first episode of SciComm Shorts, we’ll talk about why your “why” is the place to start when you’re thinking about your science communication. Presented by Suzanne Whitby of SciComm Success.
Music by “Sweeter Vermouth” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
The right title for your audience
“Little Mermaid’s umbrella turns up in the Andamans”. What does this title say to you? If you saw it turning up in your local paper, accompanied by a photo of an interesting plant, would you want to click and read more? For us, this title made us think “Ooh, the...
Interactive scientific posters: visual, interactive, unforgettable
On my internet wanderings today, I found myself on the iF Design website, mouth agape as I explored an interactive poster designed by The Science Communication Lab. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbxCGCGYrg4 Entitled "Explore the Ocean" the poster was designed to...
Impressions from Pint of Science 2022, the Innsbruck edition
Pint of Science Innsbruck in Innsbruck, 9-11 May 2022. Five themes, five venues, three nights, and over thirty intrepid speakers from a range of research areas and scientific disciplines. And, of course, beer! [gallery...
#Read – Why does science communication help to build better engagement?
Victoria Gill and guests ask why does scientific communication matters in society and how it might be done better on BBC Inside Science, with Sam Illingworth, Berry Billingsley and Ozmala Ismail.
Know your audience
When I ask scientists, researchers and academics WHO they want to reach, one phrase comes up time and time again: the “general public”. But who is this mysterious “general” public? Does a stockbroker have the same values and priorities as a social worker? A...
Look UP! That’s what I am taking from “Don’t look up”.
I am privileged to be able to spend my days working with scientists who want to learn how to turn their academic findings into information that the “general public” can understand and hopefully act upon. Many of the people I coach and train are natural scientists who...
#Watch – Alan Alda On Why Communication Is So Important To Science
The unforgettable Alan Alda chats to Stephen Colbert on The Late Show about why it is so important for researchers and scientists to communicate their science clearly. Our favourite quote (paraphrased) is: “Communication is important in all aspects of relating. In fact, we had an FBI hostage negotiator on one of our podcasts who told us that the skills he uses to negotiate with hostages can be very useful in a marriage…”
Do you inadvertently turn your statements into questions? Here’s why (and how) to stop.
Read this out loud: You’re giving a presentation? That’s… good news? Except that you’re a little nervous? And hesitant? And so you start raising your pitch at the end of every sentence? Everything you say starts to sound like a question, even when you know what you’re...
Remembering names is part of communicating well. Here’s why, and how to do it brilliantly!
A quick summary (for the time-poor) Remembering someone's name and pronouncing it correctly is a key part of making a positive impression. It's also part of being a good communicator. Not bothering to remember someone's name or continually pronouncing it incorrectly,...
Telling a data story: visualising the spread of cholera with Dr. John Snow
Necessity is the mother of invention, and in the mid-1800s, understanding the spread of cholera was a matter of life and death. Cholera was a ruthlessly efficient killer, with both rapid onset and severe symptoms. By the time the disease made its way to London and New...
Make your LinkedIn profiles, posts, and articles POP with a symbol or two
Your LinkedIn profile may be one of your first touchpoints with potential partners, employers, employees, and random interesting people. The challenge is that there are millions of LinkedIn profiles. They’re often text heavy. You can’t do much with the formatting (no...
Recommended resources
Book of the month
We love this because it’s a great resource for scientists and researchers who want to learn how to tell stories with data, not simply throw a few graphs at people and expect them to work it out for themselves!
Podcast of the month
We love this because funding is crucial for researchers. Prof. Roger Barker gives an honest account of his experience and his current perspective, facilitated expertly by the insightful Dr. Sandrine Soubes.
Resource of the month
We love this because being able to frame conversations in a way that makes them meaningful for the people we want to reach is an essential skill that can be learned and fine-tuned over time.