Promote your Scientific Results from Coursera

Whether you are a member of the natural or human science community, if you are a PhD student, professor, part of an academic department or international research team, or self-employed and you wish to showcase your work to a wider audience then this is the perfect course for you. You will learn how to promote your work to professional peers, the general public, as well as the media.

The free version (open to all enrollments) contains:

30 videos (4 and a half total hours) of high-quality lessons conducted by various experts.

Multiple embedded discussions, readings, and reflective tasks (4-5 hours) to further deepen your learning.

Several discussion forums where you can network and collaborate with fellow participants.

Participants who wish to obtain official Coursera certification for their training are invited to carry out and receive passing grades on three peer-reviewed assignments and two quizzes.

In this MOOC, we have been incredibly fortunate to gather a team of experienced professionals from scientific experts, to media specialists, to communication coaches, who frequently appear at conferences and on various face-to-face and online platforms. You will gain key takeaways that you can adapt to your own communication contexts. To further deepen your learning experience, you will collaborate with an international scientific community to reflect on and fine-tune your own skills in pitches, presentations, approach to question and answer sessions, networking, and speaking to the media.

Authors' note: While the course is intended for self-study use, it has also been successfully piloted in flipped classroom English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) training contexts.

Watch the Teaser here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FxZTUg_Ntk

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to the Course

In this first introductory module, we will help you get acquainted with each other and the course objectives. We will also offer tips on how to get the most out of this course. These tasks are to be combined with the work you do in Week 1.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores best practices for communicating with the media, which is standard in research and science

Examines networking, which is highly relevant to researchers and scientists

Teaches how to craft an effective scientific presentation, which helps learners deliver clear and persuasive talks

Develops skills for answering challenging questions, which is a core skill for researchers and scientists

Taught by experts in scientific communication, who are recognized for their work in this field

Requires completion of peer-reviewed assignments to obtain certification, which may be a caveat for some learners

Reviews summary

Promote scientific research effectively

According to students, this course is a highly practical and valuable resource for scientists and researchers aiming to improve their communication skills. Learners consistently praise the experienced and diverse instructors, particularly their ability to offer actionable advice across various communication channels. The content is described as well-structured and easy to follow, providing a solid foundation for engaging with peers, the public, and the media. While the course is generally seen as excellent for all levels, especially for those new to scientific communication, some found certain modules more impactful than others.

Suitable for both beginners and those with some prior experience.

"It gives a solid foundation to scientific communication methods for researchers."

"I found it to be an excellent refresher, but also provided new insights."

"Even as someone with some presentation experience, I found valuable tips here."

"Great for beginners looking to understand how to promote scientific research effectively."

The course content is logically organized and easy to navigate.

"The course is very well structured and easy to understand."

"The modules were well organized, building upon each other effectively."

"I found the course structure very logical, allowing for smooth progression."

"The topics were presented clearly, making complex ideas accessible."

Covers essential communication skills from pitching to media interaction.

"The topics covered are relevant for all PhD students and researchers to learn how to present their work to different audiences."

"I learned a lot about pitching, presentations, Q&A, networking, and media engagement."

"This course offers a comprehensive overview of how to effectively disseminate scientific work."

"The modules on presentations and interacting with the press were particularly useful for me."

Course benefits greatly from a range of professional communicators.

"Each module provided different coaches/speakers with very useful advice."

"The lecturers were very interesting and good, they clearly explained everything."

"Great coaches with highly relevant experience. The information was well-organized and delivered."

"The variety of speakers provided diverse perspectives and expertise, making the content richer."

Provides immediately applicable strategies for scientific communication.

"I enjoyed the course very much as it gave me very practical advice for promoting my research."

"It has very practical information which can be applied directly... It has a very solid and practical base."

"I gained very practical tools and strategies that I could immediately apply to my work."

"This course provided many practical recommendations on how to structure a presentation, answers to questions, and networking."

Some modules resonated more strongly with learners than others.

"Some modules were truly excellent, while others felt a bit less impactful."

"I found the presentation and media modules very strong, but networking less so."

"While generally good, I felt some parts were more generic compared to the specific expert advice elsewhere."

"My experience was that some weeks were incredibly insightful and others were just good."

Peer-reviewed assignments vary in helpfulness based on reviewer quality.

"The peer review assignments can be a hit or miss depending on the quality of your reviewers."

"While the assignments are good for practice, the feedback quality was inconsistent."

"I found the peer review aspect challenging as some feedback was not constructive."

"My experience with peer grading was mixed; some peers provided great insights, others not so much."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Promote your Scientific Results with these activities:

Refreshing Communication Basics

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Review the basics of communication, including verbal and nonverbal communication, active listening, and conflict resolution, to reinforce your foundation.

Browse courses on Communication Skills

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Review the principles of effective communication
Identify and practice different communication techniques for various contexts
Seek opportunities to engage in active listening exercises

Reviewing Scientific Research Methods

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Review the fundamental concepts and principles of scientific research methods, including experimental design, data collection, and analysis, to strengthen your understanding of scientific inquiry.

Browse courses on Scientific Methods

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Review the steps of the scientific method
Identify different types of research designs
Understand the principles of data collection and analysis

Following Video Tutorials on Presentation Skills

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Seek out and follow video tutorials provided by experts to enhance your presentation skills and learn best practices for effectively conveying your research.

Browse courses on Scientific Presentations

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Identify reputable sources for video tutorials on presentation skills
Watch and take notes on the tutorials
Practice applying the techniques learned in your own presentations

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Reading 'Made to Stick'

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Review the book 'Made to Stick' to gain insights into the principles of effective communication and learn how to make your research more memorable and impactful.

View Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book 'Made to Stick'
Identify key takeaways from the book
Apply the principles to your own scientific communication

Pitching and Presenting Practice

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Engage in regular practice of delivering scientific pitches and presentations to enhance your ability to articulate your research effectively and persuade your audience.

Browse courses on Scientific Presentations

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Craft a compelling pitch for your research
Prepare and rehearse a scientific presentation
Deliver your pitch and presentation to peers for feedback

Attending Science Conferences

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Participate in scientific conferences and networking events to connect with peers, learn about the latest research, and gain valuable insights into the scientific community.

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Identify and attend relevant scientific conferences
Prepare an elevator pitch to introduce yourself and your research
Connect with researchers and professionals in your field

Creating Scientific Infographics

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Create visually engaging infographics that communicate your research findings in a clear and accessible way to enhance your ability to disseminate your work to a wider audience.

Browse courses on Science Communication

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Choose a compelling research finding or concept to illustrate
Design an infographic using appropriate visuals and text
Share your infographic on social media or scientific platforms

Mentoring Junior Researchers

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Share your knowledge and experience by mentoring junior researchers to enhance their communication skills, support their professional development, and contribute to the growth of the scientific community.

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Identify opportunities to mentor junior researchers
Provide guidance and support on scientific writing, presentations, and other communication-related aspects
Offer constructive feedback and encouragement to foster their development

Career center

Learners who complete Promote your Scientific Results will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Science Communications Manager

Science Communications Managers work across scientific disciplines to make complex and technical ideas accessible to diverse audiences. Through various channels, they may present information to educate, raise awareness, or promote understanding of scientific research and its implications. This course can help build a foundation for this role by providing guidance on structuring and presenting ideas, enhancing scientific presentations, and answering challenging questions effectively. Additionally, the section on interacting with the press can provide invaluable insights into building relationships with the media and effectively communicating scientific findings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Communications Manager

Health Science Writer

Health Science Writers translate complex scientific and medical information into clear and engaging content for a variety of audiences. They may work for medical journals, hospitals, universities, or pharmaceutical companies. This course can help build a foundation for this role by providing guidance on structuring and presenting ideas, enhancing scientific presentations, and answering challenging questions effectively. Additionally, the section on interacting with the press can provide invaluable insights into building relationships with the media and effectively communicating scientific findings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Science Writer

Science Policy Advisor

Science Policy Advisors provide expert advice to policymakers on scientific and technological issues. They may work for government agencies, think tanks, or advocacy groups. This course can help build a foundation for this role by providing guidance on structuring and presenting ideas, enhancing scientific presentations, and answering challenging questions effectively. Additionally, the section on interacting with the press can provide valuable insights into building relationships with the media and effectively communicating scientific findings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Policy Advisor

Medical Science Liaison

Medical Science Liaisons serve as a bridge between the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare providers, providing scientific and medical information about products and services. This course can help build a foundation for this role by providing guidance on structuring and presenting ideas, enhancing scientific presentations, and answering challenging questions effectively. Additionally, the section on interacting with the press can provide invaluable insights into building relationships with the media and effectively communicating scientific findings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Science Liaison

Science Teacher

Science Teachers educate students in various scientific disciplines, helping them develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. This course can help build a foundation for this role by providing guidance on structuring and presenting ideas, enhancing scientific presentations, and answering challenging questions effectively. Additionally, it can provide insights into effective communication and engagement with diverse audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Teacher

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create instruction manuals, technical reports, and other documents that explain complex technical information. This course can help build a foundation for this role by providing guidance on structuring and presenting ideas, enhancing scientific presentations, and answering challenging questions effectively. Additionally, it can provide insights into effective communication and engagement with diverse audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Science Communicator

Science Communicators interpret and relay scientific information to the public, through various media such as articles, videos, and social media. This course can help build a foundation for this role by providing guidance on structuring and presenting ideas, enhancing scientific presentations, and answering challenging questions effectively. Additionally, it can provide insights into effective communication and engagement with diverse audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Communicator

Public relations manager

Public Relations Managers build and maintain relationships with the media, customers, and other stakeholders to promote a positive image for an organization. This course can help build a foundation for this role by providing guidance on structuring and presenting ideas, enhancing scientific presentations, and answering challenging questions effectively. Additionally, it can provide insights into effective communication and engagement with diverse audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public relations manager

Grant Writer

Grant Writers prepare and submit grant proposals to secure funding for research projects and programs. This course can help build a foundation for this role by providing guidance on structuring and presenting ideas, enhancing scientific presentations, and answering challenging questions effectively. Additionally, it can provide insights into effective communication and engagement with diverse audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Grant Writer

Research Scientist

Research Scientists conduct scientific research to advance knowledge and understanding in various fields. This course may be useful by providing guidance on structuring and presenting ideas, enhancing scientific presentations, and answering challenging questions effectively. Additionally, it can provide insights into effective communication and engagement with diverse audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research Scientist

Science Journalist

Science Journalists report on scientific research and discoveries for a variety of media outlets. This course can help build a foundation for this role by providing guidance on structuring and presenting ideas, enhancing scientific presentations, and answering challenging questions effectively. Additionally, the section on interacting with the press can provide invaluable insights into building relationships with the media and effectively communicating scientific findings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Journalist

Scientific Event Organizer

Scientific Event Organizers plan and execute conferences, workshops, and other events for the scientific community. This course can help build a foundation for this role by providing guidance on structuring and presenting ideas, enhancing scientific presentations, and answering challenging questions effectively. Additionally, it can provide insights into effective communication and engagement with diverse audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Scientific Event Organizer

Scientific Editor

Scientific Editors review, edit, and prepare scientific manuscripts for publication in journals and other publications. This course can help build a foundation for this role by providing guidance on structuring and presenting ideas, enhancing scientific presentations, and answering challenging questions effectively. Additionally, it can provide insights into effective communication and engagement with diverse audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Scientific Editor

Science Administrator

Science Administrators manage the operations of scientific organizations, including research institutions, universities, and government agencies. This course can help build a foundation for this role by providing guidance on structuring and presenting ideas, enhancing scientific presentations, and answering challenging questions effectively. Additionally, it can provide insights into effective communication and engagement with diverse audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Administrator

Science Policy Analyst

Science Policy Analysts analyze and evaluate scientific research to inform policy decisions. This course can help build a foundation for this role by providing guidance on structuring and presenting ideas, enhancing scientific presentations, and answering challenging questions effectively. Additionally, the section on interacting with the press can provide valuable insights into building relationships with the media and effectively communicating scientific findings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Policy Analyst