Program Overview

Program Overview

The program "Storytelling, Message Distilling and Presentation Design for Natural and Life Scientists" is designed for doctoral candidates of the Faculty of Science of the University of Basel. The course aims to equip participants with effective science communication skills, focusing on storytelling, message distilling, and presentation design.

Course Details

• Dates: The course will take place on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, and Wednesday, 29 April 2026, from 09:30 to 17:30.
• Registration: The registration period begins on 21 January 2026 at 09:00 and ends on 31 March 2026 at 12:00.
• Cost: The course is free of charge for doctoral candidates of the Faculty of Science of the University of Basel.
• Instructors: Dr. Daniel Angerhausen and Amran Salleh.
• Credits: 1 ECTS, which can be credited towards Higher Education Teaching Certificates, Module Context Higher Education.

Course Objectives

The course combines scientific storytelling and presentation design to help participants communicate their research effectively to multiple audiences. The final product will be an engaging 3-minute presentation accompanied by a polished slide deck.

Part 1: Storytelling and Communication

• Communication strategies for scientists
• Introduction to the basics of storytelling
• Introduction to the fundamentals of message distilling
• Functions of emotions, techniques, and methods for using emotions in science communication
• Development of metaphors and analogies
• Development of "first lines / last lines"

Part 2: Design

• Introduction to personal presentation design
• Applying visual design principles to create scientific visuals
• Effective communication of research through scientific presentations
• Tips and tricks for using layout software tools
• Avoiding technical pitfalls for digital and printing products

Course Content

The course will explore how scientific lectures can become exciting and understandable stories. It will also cover how to distill a core message for a specific audience and wrap it in a story. Participants will work on crafting their presentations in class, applying fundamental principles of graphic design to scientific presentations.

Target Audience

• Doctoral candidates of the Faculty of Science of the University of Basel
• Early career researchers at all stages who wish to improve the clarity and effectiveness of their scientific communication

Workload and Requirements

• Total workload: 30 hours (16 hours of lessons, 14 hours of preliminary work and homework)
• Participants are required to prepare a 3-minute presentation with a topic of their choice before the workshop
• Post-workshop submissions include a recording of the final presentation and a text document detailing the presentation's title, target audience, purpose, and text

Special Considerations

• The course is reserved for doctoral candidates of the Faculty of Science.
• Registration is allocated by lot after the initial 24-hour registration period, with subsequent registrations placed on a waiting list.
• Full course attendance is mandatory, with penalties for absence without prior notification or withdrawal after the registration deadline.

Location

The course will be held at the Neubau Biozentrum, Spitalstrasse 41, 4056 Basel, in Seminarraum 02.058.