Target Audience:

The Science Outreach Programme is open to research students and early career research staff from the Faculties of Science, Engineering and Medicine & Health Sciences. The Programme provides an exciting opportunity for researchers interested in developing their ability to engage with wider audiences through attending specific training modules as well as applying the skills developed at an outreach or public engagement event. 

Description: The course covers communicating science to non-scientists, thinking and learning styles, risk assessment, working with young people, and interactive presentation and practical activity design.  Researchers then participate in an outreach and public engagement events. 

Aims: To develop your communication and outreach skills and provide opportunities to share your scientific knowledge and research experience with local schools or the general public.

Objectives

 By the end of the programme you will:

·        understand different thinking and learning styles

·        be able to apply this understanding to a range of communication activities

·        understand issues associated with working with young people

·        Be able to develop and deliver an interactive activity for school pupils

·        Be able to demonstrate experience of communicating research ideas to non-specialists

Process: This programme consists of 2 days of training to prepare participants to work with secondary schools. Following the course, participants work in teams to develop activities suitable for engaging an audience at an event of their choosing.

Please register only if you are fully committed to the entire programme, which includes a 2-day training course, followed by the preparation and delivery of an engaging activity.

Feedback

Participants’ comments

“Thoroughly enjoyable and nice to meet people who are enthusiastic about the work we do and have a different perspective on it.”

“A very worthwhile experience – has given me lots of ideas”

“I really enjoyed it!”

Teachers’ comments

“It was a really great experience for our students and I hope that we can do some more of this type of thing.”

“Thoroughly enjoyed by pupils and teachers!”

“Excellent presentations. Fun and interesting activities.” 

“Very impressive teaching techniques!”

 

Course Accessibility

The following table shows a summary of what is needed to participate in the course. 

If you feel you will experience any difficulties participating, please let us know via the ‘special requirements’ tab, providing as much information as possible. The special requirements tab can be completed when you book your place. Alternatively, you can contact us directly at ra-training@nottingham.ac.uk.

Print off pre-requisite paperwork/ resources & bring them to the course (optional)
Bring your own laptop/ PC to the course (optional)
Access seminar room on campus
Attend the course at the specified date and time
Watch and listen to the course tutor(s) and/or other attendees
Follow presentation slides during the course

 

Booking Conditions

Latecomer policy

Researchers should plan to arrive prior to the advertised course start time. Except for exceptional reasons, there will be no admittance to a Researcher Academy or Faculty Training Programme (FTP) course 15 minutes after the advertised course start time.

Importance of booking commitment

When booking on to a Researcher Academy short course you are entering into a commitment to attend. If you find that you are no longer available to attend you MUST cancel your place (on the system if more than three days before the course) or if at short notice by emailing ra-training@nottingham.ac.uk. This will ensure that your place can be offered to another researcher on the waiting list. Failure to cancel a place results in other researchers missing out on places through the waiting list process.

It is unacceptable for researchers to just not attend when booked onto a course. The Researcher Academy maintains records of those who repeatedly do not attend courses they have booked. This may affect future eligibility to book onto further Researcher Academy courses and will affect considerations for Researcher Academy funded opportunities.