Program Overview

Engaging Society through Science Communication

Course Information

The course "Engaging Society through Science Communication" is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Registration opens on January 21, 2026, at 9:00 AM, and the deadline for registration is March 25, 2026, at 12:00 PM. This course is free of charge and is exclusively available to doctoral candidates and postdocs of the University of Basel, with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 20 participants.

Aims

By the end of this course, participants will be familiar with the essential tools of science communication and know how to apply them effectively. The course aims to equip participants with the skills to select the right channels to share their research clearly and accessibly, prepare focused messages, and build their professional network. Participants will also reflect on how science and society interact, helping them choose their role as a scientist in this broader context.

Content

The course provides participants with practical tools to communicate science effectively, covering:

• How science interacts with society and what to pay attention to
• Defining goals in engaging with society beyond academia
• Explaining research and its implications clearly and concisely
• Building presence on social media
• Preparing for interviews with the media

Methods

The course combines short theoretical inputs, checklists, concrete examples, group discussions, and practical exercises to provide a comprehensive learning experience.

Target Group

The target group for this course includes all doctoral candidates and postdocs.

Requirements

To participate in the course, participants must:

1. Provide two written items about their work (such as an abstract of a research article, a short description of a research project, or appearances in a newsletter or media) uploaded as a single Word or PDF file to a designated folder before April 8, 2026.
2. Complete an assignment that will be uploaded by April 8, 2026, and submit it by April 15, 2026.
3. Bring a laptop to the workshop.

About the Trainer

Daniel Saraga, the course trainer, has 18 years of experience in science communication. His clients include universities in Switzerland and abroad, the ETH Board, the Swiss National Covid-19 Science Task Force, and Luxembourg's parliament. He has trained hundreds of scientists in dealing with the media, advising policymakers, developing social media presence, and improving writing skills.

Workload

The total workload for the course is 9 hours, consisting of 8 hours of course attendance and 1 hour of preparation.

Feature

Once registration is open, applications will be collected for 24 hours, and course places will be allocated by lot. All registrations received after the initial 24-hour period will be put on a waiting list and assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Course places and waiting list positions will be confirmed by email. Full course attendance is mandatory, and participants who fail to attend without prior notification or withdraw after the registration deadline may be subject to a fee.