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The society of knowledge requires fluid communication between knowledge-producing institutions and their publics. Knowledge of the main development paths of scientific-technical research, and its main risks and benefits is a fundamental element of contemporary culture, and the existence of specialized communicators is essential. 

The program is designed to provide young researchers with the necessary concepts and tools to approach the dissemination of their current and future research activities and technical knowledge to the public, an activity that is increasingly in demand by society, research centres, universities and public administrations. 

The micro-programme will offer a combination of theoretical and practical courses that will equip young researchers with a complete experience on the means to exchange scientific knowledge with society. Debate and discussion will be highly encouraged as a means to develop critical thinking. Interdisciplinarity is embedded in the program due to the extensive application of communication in all domains of science. 

Applications for this micro-programme have closed.

1. Understanding Science Communication

University of Bucharest – 1 ETCS 

  • Science in popular culture and popular science  
  • Communicating science: lessons from the History of science  
  • Workshop: how to read old scientific texts 
  • Workshop: digital resources on the History of science 

2. Communicating in different contexts

Université libre de Bruxelles – 2 ETCS 

  • Science communication: a perspective of the field beyond outreach  
  • Talking about your research to the media and a lay public  
  • Sharing knowledge and expertise in collaborations  
  • Managing your social media presence as a researcher  
  • Writing articles about science for a general public  

3. Practical resources for Science Dissemination

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid – 3 ETCS 

  • Scientific video: disseminate, teaching and illustrate 
  • Workshop: script, recording and edition of scientific videos 
  • Scientific dissemination on the radio: similarities and advantages with other media 
  • Workshop: podcast recording 
  • Workshop: illustration and scientific animation   
  • Workshop hands-on activities 

Format: Virtual 

Dates: 29 March 2022 – 12 July 2022  

Duration of the course: 4 hours/week  

ETCS: 6 

Please, consult your supervisor on the recognition of the credits provided in case of doubt. A detailed certificate of attendance will be provided at the end of the course.

Number of places available: 25 

Language: English (B2)

Requirements

Be a registered PhD candidate in one of the CIVIS Universities in any discipline. Experience in the communication field is not necessary. 

Students who register will receive: 

  • The link for the course sessions, 
  • A reminder with an abstract and references a few days before each course, 
  • Access to a recording of the session for a limited period immediately after each course, 
  • Access to a Moodle allowing exchange with the presenters and amongst themselves. 

Assessment 

  • The evaluation of the course will be based on attendance and participation. 
  • For information, ECTS credits will be given to students who attend and participate in over 70% of the webinars. 

You will have the opportunity: 

  • To understand the usefulness of communicating science to a variety of publics. 
  • To analyze models of science communication (including in the context of citizen science) and how to apply them. 
  • Acquire theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in the production of written and oral texts on scientific topics aimed at the general public
  • Acquire skills in the organization of science communication events aimed at the public
  • Acquire the theoretical basis and practical skills to facilitate the exchange of scientific and technological knowledge and expertise between people with different professional backgrounds
  • Acquire the techniques of popularizing science in the audiovisual media and social networks
  • Foster interdisciplinary debates and cultural exchange between students from different CIVIS universities

  • Autonomous Learning 
  • Problem recognition and analysis 
  • Communicate knowledge area-specific and general information clearly and effectively. 
  • Capacity of analysis and synthesis 
  • Creativity 
  • The ability to document reports with reliable information from historical sources 
  • Placing scientific results in a larger narrative structure 

Applications for this micro-programme have closed.

APPLY HERE

If the number of applications exceeds the number of available places, the three collaborating universities will move forward with a selection procedure based on motivation and diversity. 

Should you have any questions, contact leticia.martinez.garcia@ulb.be.

GDPR Consent 

The CIVIS alliance and its member universities will treat the information you provide with respect. Please refer to our privacy policy for more information on our privacy practices. By applying to this course you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms. 

The webinars will be conducted by the following professors:  

Dr Marc Vanholsbeek (ULB) - Department of information and communication science (faculty of letters, translation and communication) 

Marc Vanholsbeeck holds a PhD in communication studies (scholarly communication and research evaluation) and has been training researchers at Université Libre de Bruxelles in science communication and media training for several years. In 2020 and 2021 he taught speech skills and public debate to the students of the Master in communication studies at ULB. He has extensive experience in the scientific environment, as well as in communication training in a variety of professional settings. 

 

Dr. Ingrid van Marion (ULB) 

Ingrid van Marion holds a PhD in clinical neuroscience and has a master's degree in Science Communication. She is a scientific collaborator at Université Libre de Bruxelles. Her research interests include knowledge brokering, expertise and communities of practice. She is co-promoting the creation of a Belgian science communication association, fostering interaction between education, academic research and professional practices. 

 

Dr David Domingo (ULB) - Department of information and communication sciences (faculty of letters, translation and communication) 

David Domingo is chair of journalism at the Université libre de Bruxelles. His research explores the adoption of technological innovations in journalism, the role of social networks in shaping the public sphere, and the relationship between scientists, journalists and citizens. He is the director of the Brussels university school of journalism (EUJB-ULB) and co-director of the research laboratory LaPIJ. 

 

Mircea Sava (UB) - Department of journalism (faculty of journalism and communication studies) 

Mircea Sava holds a PhD in communication studies, with a thesis on popular science. His research interests focus on the relations between popular culture and the public communication of science, investigating how popular science can be integrated as an efficient tool for science communication. He is also currently director of communications and public relations at the University of Bucharest, where he develops various science communication campaigns. 

 

Dr Mihnea Dobre (UB) - The humanities division of the research institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB-Humanities) 

Mihnea Dobre is academic coordinator of the ICUB-Humanities. He is a historian of philosophy and science, working mainly on the early modern period. Currently, he develops a research project on making modern science: tracing the dynamics of a 'Cartesian Newtonian textbook' during the scientific revolution - CartesianPhysics. Dobre is a book review editor at the Centaurus, an international journal of the history of science and its cultural aspects.

 

Paloma Banderas Bielicka (UAM) 

Graduate in physics (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, UAM), director of photography (Escuela de Cinematografía y Audiovisual de la Comunidad de Madrid, ECAM) and expert in public communication and science dissemination (UAM). She worked in the field of nanotechnology for three years, from 2005 to 2008, before deciding to work in the audiovisual world. Since 2008, he has worked as a lighting and camera department technician on numerous short films, television, and advertising pieces. She has also worked for three years, from 2016 to 2018, as an expert in science communication at the scientific culture unit of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. She currently works as a project manager at Filmociencia, bringing together her two passions: film and science. 

 

Luis Gómez Juanes (UAM) 

Luis G. Juanes is a filmmaker and screenwriter with a degree from the Escuela de Cinematografía de la Comunidad de Madrid (ECAM), a degree in physics from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), and an expert in public communication and science dissemination (UAM). Luis is the author of several audiovisual projects for television and cinema, with selections in international festivals such as Barcelona, Thessaloniki, or Moscow. In the scientific field, he has worked in a laboratory of new materials applied to renewable energies. As a physicist, communicator and educator, he has designed educational projects for the European Space Agency (ESA), the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN), and the National Museum of Science and Technology (MUNCYT), among others. 

 

Carmen Rodríguez López (UAM) 

Carmen Rodríguez López holds a degree in political science and sociology from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and a PhD from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM). She has carried out pre-doctoral and post-doctoral research stays at Boğazici University (Istanbul) and has taught at Istanbul Technical University on the formation of the Republic of Turkey. In Spain since 2006, she has been a contract researcher at the Taller de Estudios Internacionales Mediterráneos of the UAM and lecturer in the undergraduate studies of the University of London international programmes, under the academic direction of the London School of Economics, taught in Spain by the Madrid Management Center, in the areas of comparative politics and European Union politics and policies. At the Complutense University of Madrid, she has been an associate professor in the department of political science III in the area of political geography. Currently, she is a lecturer in the department of Arab and Islamic studies and oriental studies at the UAM.

 

Enrique Sahagún Alonso (UAM) 

Enrique Sahagún studied physical sciences at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. At the same university, he later obtained his PhD in theoretical physics and a Master's degree in biophysics. In 2012, mixing his interest in science and his experience in the audiovisual world, he created Scixel and joined Filmociencia. His work focuses on the production of all kinds of graphic material: from images and animations in the field of research to 2D and 3D visual effects for scientific documentaries. 

 

Elsa de Cea del Pozo (UAM) 

Graduated in astrophysics, Elsa works at the Spanish National Museum of Science and Technology and acts as a guide to children and young people into the way science works, through practical and educative activities. She designs educational and scientific activities, adapted to the school curriculum, and encourages vocations and the critical spirit.