Science That Speaks: Communicate, Connect, Captivate

Secure Funding: Sharpen your pitch for stronger financial backing.

Public Engagement: Connect your science with society.

Amplify Impact: Make your research resonate wider.
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Who we’ve worked with:

Training - Communicating Environmental Science

Most public engagement training focuses on voice projection, confidence building and removing jargon; we certainly cover these. However, we believe that the major factor in successful communication is to focus on the values of the audiences you are communicating with. The training we offer works with the sciences of psychology and neuroscience, language and creativity to appeal to the values, beliefs and motivators that influence people’s decision-making. 

Other SciComm training

  • Don't use big words
  • Speak clearly
  • Make eye contact

Our training

  • Language use, jargon & trigger words
  • Presentation skills & confidence building
  • Lenses of communication
  • Storytelling, narrative arcs & elevator pitches 
  • Emotions vs facts
  • Scripting & storyboarding
  • Videography
  • Social media use
  • Values & cultural dynamics

Course content

For over 70 years, scientists have been speaking to the public, to policymakers to decision-makers about the state of our ocean and yet our ocean faces threats like never before. Clearly something isn’t working.

We recognise that getting audiences to understand science is important; yet we aim to go further and make audiences care and act upon your research. Drawing upon neuroscience and psychology, our communication training focuses on the science of behaviour change, using value systems and cultural dynamics to better understand your audience. Having worked alongside neuroscientist, Dr Kris De Meyer from UCL's Climate Action Unit, our training was developed with funding from the UKRI Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and uses tried-and-tested techniques to increase the chance that an audience will act upon information.

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Why communicate?

Communicating is at the heart of everything we do. As scientists, we communicate our research to others within our field via conferences, scientific papers and policy documents. Yet few scientists would ever class themselves as a ‘communicator’.

Our workshops emphasise that public engagement is not just an altruistic endeavour; there are countless benefits to participants’ careers, to funding opportunities and to the impact they have on stakeholders.

Helping to Improve presentations, papers and articles, we cover the basic of good science storytelling, effective language use, elevator pitches, narrative arcs, barriers to engagement and value systems. In short, gain the skills that help you and your work to be recognised and acted upon.

Within an academic context, communication often falls to the comms department, the public engagement department or a handful of enthusiastic individuals. Yet ALL researchers benefit from becoming better communicators. By better communicating your research, you increase your paper citations, you can better pitch your research to funding bodies and grant-givers, and crucially, your research will be better understood and acted upon by policymakers, decision makers and other stakeholders. On the occasion that a media agency picks up on your work or requires an expert statement, you will better poised to deal with the rigours of a media appearance or interview.
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Who we are

Dr Russell Arnott PGCE

First and foremost, Russell is a marine science researcher. Having completed his undergraduate and Masters at University of Southampton, Russell went on to work as a survey oceanographer in the commercial sector. Specialising in the overlap in marine physics and ecology, Russell completed his PhD within the University of Bath’s Centre for Climate Adaptation & Environment Research before going onto positions at the University of Cambridge and currently, the University of Exeter’s Centre for Geography and Environmental Science where he lectures in oceanography.

Drawing upon his experience as a school science teacher, Russell is able to communicate science to different audiences across many different settings. He has had multiple TV and radio appearances including Sky News, BBC News, Euronews, BBC Radio 4 and various BBC regional radio stations. 
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Ian Rowlands

Having worked for various newspapers and media outlets, Ian has a diverse background in journalism. He now uses his talents to help those tackling, or dealing with, the greatest environmental challenges of our time, whether it be scientists, activists or young people.

After working in the environmental NGO sector for many years, Ian went on to curate and produce a number of influential large-scale ocean festivals. Bringing together the creative community, artists, performers, activists and the media, Ian led a team of 900 passionate volunteers to help communicate vital environmental issues to a diverse audience of over 35,000 people.

Ian is currently director of Siren Calling CIC. As well as delivering communications training to civil servants, fishers, and scientists, he also leads on youth projects, helping young people to produce digital content themed around ecology, sustainability, optimism, nature and mental health, which have gathered large online audiences.
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Reviews

Over 90% of participants report an increased in confidence with public engagement after one day
Very engaging and lively, I never felt like I was going to fall asleep. They made everything very palatable and easy to understand. It was presented in a way that sticks with you and is easy to apply.
Meghann Tansley
IMBRSea
It was such a brilliant experience, and I learned so much from it.
Eilean MacDonald
Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences | University of East Anglia
The friendly atmosphere and chat really helped make what we were doing easier
Rob Templeton
Marine Autonomous & Robotics Systems, NOC
They got us all involved and engaged and pushed us all beyond our comfort zones
Georgina Valls Domedel
Ocean BioGeosciences, NOC
Good people, engaging, well prepared
Alice Marzocchi
Marine Systems Modelling, NOC

Read our Published Paper

Marine Scientists and creative professionals collaborate for science communication
De Clippele et al., 2021. Research For All.
https://doi.org/10.14324/RFA.05.1.11
To raise awareness of marine environmental challenges, we trained marine scientists in effective science communication and innovative engagement. This case study encourages scientists and creatives to adopt our collaborative approach in designing and delivering public engagement activities. Here, the authors reflect on their experiences in training, delivering public engagement activities, understanding audiences, and collaborating with creatives. They also share insights gained by creatives and audiences. Long-term benefits include fostering future collaborative engagement activities and positively influencing scientists’ research processes.
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Taking it further...

Introduction to Videography

Building upon the basic video skills learned on the introductory course, participants will learn how to storyboard, script, deliver and edit short videos about their research area. Working with award-winning videographer Laurence Hall, participants get one-to-one input as they learn basic video editing skills aiming to produce a short video for social media or a research introduction for conferences.
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Dealing with the Press and Media

Drawing upon our journalism and media experience, you will learn how journalists work, how to best present your science stories for the media, and how to avoid the pitfalls faced by the inexperienced. The day will start with by understanding what the media want; keeping on topic / bridging; avoiding being misquoted; crafting your science story; body language; and getting your message across. Then practice on a ‘real world’ practice interviews in front of the camera, in a mock-up studio. Our aim is to remove participant’s fear of dealing with the media and to give them the confidence to talk about their work.
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Livestream Broadcasts

Bringing together digital content producing and interview techniques, we broadcast over YouTube (and other social media channels) from a live studio location. Participants present their own videos the broadcast and take questions from the host and from viewers online. Livestream broadcasts offer an effective, low pressure, practice for participants to prepare for TV interviews and broadcasts. Additional positive outcomes include: increased skills and self-confidence amongst participating researchers; and greater dissemination of ocean science content to online stakeholders.
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Incredible Oceans CIC,
2a Harbour Court, New Street,
Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3HY
info@incredibleoceans.org +44 (0) 7592 984 021
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