This paper is published at FEBS Letters 598 (2024), p. 2323-2327. It is the result of the experiences of the EU-LIFE Science Communications Working Group with early-career researchers in the life sciences, and it was authored by Giorgia Guglielmi, Emil Petersen, Laura Alvarez, Eva Zacharioudaki, Ana Morais, Esther Dorado-Ladera and Mari Kaunisto.
Abstract
Science communication is an important skill. It is easier for nonacademic audiences to remember stories that resonate with their imagination rather than facts and figures. To help early-career researchers develop their skills, the EU-LIFE Science Communications Working Group (SCWG) developed a training course based on the experience from previous workshops held at a research institute in Denmark. The stories crafted in the workshops proved impactful, with some integrated into broader campaigns and featured in science magazines. The initiative holds potential for transformative change, helping researchers promote their findings and increasing awareness of emerging research topics among the public. Recently, the initiative has been customized for a summer school aimed at medical doctors pursuing a PhD, marking a step forward in the SCWG’s mission to equip researchers with essential communication skills.