EUTOPIA_HEALTH training workshop: Impact and science communication

First day of the training was led by Johan Emanuel from the University of Gothenburg. He is a commited researcher who combines scientific excellence with social responsibility: he focuses on solving modern challenges with an interdisciplinary approach. He highlighted different aspects of research and project impact and presented tools to better define research needs and challenges, identify stakeholders and achieve long-term impact on society and industry. Johan gave an overview of European research funding programmes, while Ms. Veronika Simonovska from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics UL presented national research funding opportunities.

Barbi Seme, researcher at the Centre for Cognitive Science (Faculty of Education UL) summed up the themes of the first two days: »The workshop offered us a new perspective on how to achieve impact and provided us with different approaches to science communication. At the University of Ljubljana, we do a lot of high-impact research, and workshops like this allow for a broader visibility and ensure that research results are used in a more targeted way.«

The second day of the workshop focused on science communication, which was presented by Renata Dacinger and dr. Saša Novak. Renata Dacinger, a communicator and journalist (Ugriznimo znanost, Val 202), successfully communicates complex scientific topics to the public with her clear and engaging approach. Dr Saša Novak has many years of experience as a scientific advisor, science communication consultant, full professor at the Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School and coordinator of the project Science on the Street (Znanost na cesti). Through practical exercises, participants learned how to tailor science communication for the public. Using practical exercises, the participants learnt how to tailor science communication for the public. The workshop provided practical tools and techniques to help participants develop a communication plan tailored to their own specific research projects.

Prof. Dr Vesna Žabkar from the Faculty of Economics UL summed up her thoughts on the second day: »The workshop on science communication is excellent – a highly relevant topic, great implementation, with many concrete and useful examples given by experienced lecturers. I can highly recommend it.«

The EUTOPIA_HEALTH project, which involves nine European universities, aims to connect science with industry and the public while achieving a greater societal impact in the field of health. The project is specifically tailored to three Widening universities from Romania, Slovenia and Portugal. The two-day EUTOPIA_HEALTH training on impact and science communication was the first in the series to take place at the Widening universities. The aim of these activities is to improve the outreach, impact and science communication of researchers and non-academic staff and to promote a stronger flow of information and collaboration between researchers, industry, policy makers and the public.