Science Communication Skills for Water Cooperation and Diplomacy

General information

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  General information

  Introduction

  This online course aims to enable you to develop practical skills to confidently engage with the media and effectively communicate your research and professional work. Although relevant to anyone wishing to improve their science communication, the course is most relevant to those working on science relating to the Nile Basin. It uses examples and case studies specifically relevant to those working in the Nile Basin and takes account of the particular sensitivities around communicating science in this area.
  
  

  For whom?

  Natural, applied and social scientists – including PhD students – carrying out research and programme implementation on the Nile Basin, whether based in the region or elsewhere.
  
  

  Dates and Fee

  Start: 22 October 2018 
  End: 1 February 2019
  Deadline for application: 19 October 2018
  Course fee: Free
  
  

  Learning objectives

  Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
  

  • explain how the media works and,
  • communicate their research and work in the Nile Basin effectively to journalists.

  
  

  Course content

  Module 1: The media landscape
  Module 2: How to work with the media
  Module 3: Making water science interesting to journalists and their audiences
  Module 4: Simplifying your science
  Module 5: Dealing with numbers and statistics
  Module 6: Preparing media statements and press releases
  Module 7: How to talk to the press
  Module 8: Designing and implementing a research communication strategy
  
  

  Working method

  
  This is an online, self-directed course, with moderation and feedback provided both by peers in the online environment and by Dr Charles Wendo (Training Coordinator at SciDev.Net), an experienced science journalist and media trainer, who holds a master’s degree in journalism and communication, a postgraduate diploma in mass communication and a bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine. In addition, one exercise will provide participants with comment and feedback from professional journalists working in the field.
  
  This course is expected to take 10-16 hours to complete. A limited number of places are available and will be allocated on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis. A certificate of completion will be issued to participants who successfully complete the course.
  
  

  Registration and Enquiries

  Register your interest by emailing a short overview of your work, and how you think this course could positively impact it to: Amel Azab, Nile Basin Capacity Building Network, a_azab@nbcbn.net
  
  For general curriculum questions contact Charles Wendo, Training Coordinator at SciDev.Net, charles.wendo@scidev.net 
  
  For all other course inquiries contact Emanuele Fantini, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, e.fantini@un-ihe.org 
  
  

  References

  This course is offered by the project “Open Water Diplomacy. Media, Science and Transboundary Cooperation in the Nile basin”, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Global Partnership for Water and Development, and implemented by IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, SciDev.Net, Nile Basin Capacity Building Network, Water Journalists Africa and the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
  

  
  
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