Science Communication–Writing for Popular Media for Impact

 

Target Group: This workshop is open to Academics, Postdoctoral Fellows and PhD Candidates only.

 

Background: For the modern day researcher, research visibility matters. While publishing in peer-reviewed journals is vital, it is also wise and useful to consider other ways of reaching wider audiences such as policy makers, the public and gain exposure. Mandela University is partnering with The Conversation Africa (TC Africa), who will conduct and deliver the virtual 2-hour workshop on popular writing for scientists. The workshop is designed to be a hands-on and interactive session and will equip researchers with skills to pitch and publish on The Conversation Africa. The workshop will focus on how researchers can best communicate research findings and insights to non-academic audiences be they the general public or policy makers for impact.

 

About the Conversation: The Conversation Africa is a media organisation that works with academics and scientists, helping them to translate, write and share their research and expertise in an accessible way and sharing those insights with the ordinary public on a dedicated news and analysis website – www.theconversation.com/africa The research and scholarly endeavour of African academics and scientists can have a significant bearing on societal issues, yet many academics and scientists lack the skills, experience necessary to write for non-scientists audiences and often also lack opportunities to do so. This means that their wealth of knowledge and research often remains trapped within university corridors, within peer-to-peer journals, leaving the public and the policy community deprived of access to important insights that could facilitate evidence-based policies.

 

Requirements: All participants are required to complete a pre-workshop assignment that needs to be submitted before the workshop.

 

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