Empowering Researchers in Sustainability Communication

Jan 20, 21 and 24, 2025

Antoine Guisan

Ms Giulia Perroud, UNIL
Dr Gyda Fenn-Moltu

Dr Kostas Kampourakis, UNIGE

Research institutions host junior and experienced scientists who develop cutting-edge knowledge related to sustainability. Such institutions are generally also interested in promoting their societal impact via knowledge sharing, and empowering their members to provide excellent, accurate, and transformative scientific communication. While PhD candidates typically gain communication skills within their academic context, this often doesn't extend to engaging with a broader public audience while new generations of researchers seem increasingly keen to engage in public outreach. We propose a course designed to equip participants with the skills to educate non-specialist audiences on complex scientific concepts relevant to sustainability while fostering critical and scientific thinking. Recognizing that 'learning by doing' is a highly effective educational strategy, participants will create interactive activities or material for education for a non-specialist audience.
During the course, participants will thus contextualize the significance of their research within the broader context of the transition towards a sustainable society. The scientific quality and relevance of the activities and material produced will be evaluated collectively by the course participants, while their pedagogical quality will be evaluated and trained by the course instructor, experienced in teaching science. The participants' productions can be made available for use in public education settings, allowing participants to observe the actual effectiveness of their communication.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify and address common misconceptions about sustainability;
• Distinguish between opinions and evidence-based conclusions in sustainability;
• Define learning goals in sustainability for diverse audiences;
• Select appropriate and relevant background information, peer-reviewed results, or controversies to effectively communicate their research;
• Develop interactive activities that inspire complex, critical, and scientific thinking;
• Assess the effectiveness of these activities in achieving learning

UNIL (Amphipôle 321)

Travel
PhD students of the CUSO biology programmes are eligible for the reimbursement of incurred travel expenses by train (half-fare card, 2nd class) from the main station of your institution city and the course location.
Claims can be done online via MyCUSO when the activity is over.

Fees
CUSO participants: Free
Other participants: Please contact the programme coordinator at ecologie-evolution(at)cuso.ch

CUSO PhD candidates: free

Other participants: please contact the program coordinator at ecologie-evolution(at)cuso.ch

Cancellation policy: In case of cancellations before the 1st registration deadline (Jan 1st): free
Late cancellations after Jan 1st or no-show: 100 CHF administrative fee

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