Keynote for Postdoc Community Ghent University

1. Esther De Smet - Postdoc Community Event 16 December 2021

3. Why engage in science communication?
Open Science
Fake news
Pathway to impact
Professional and personal development

4. Curiosity
Solving puzzles
Enjoying experiments
Creativity
Fascination for nature
Fascination for culture
Love of teaching
Love of learning
Love of freedom
Do good
Have an impact
Change the world
Leave a mark
Fix injustice
Karma

6. Two things to mind:
Stakeholders / publics
Story(telling)

7. Two things to mind:
Stakeholders
beneficiaries /
casualities
collaborators
decision
makers

10. Story(telling)

13. Just remember: attention & reach
is not IMPACT but it does take…

16. Five key points of being a good communicator, Nancy Baron (2010)
Show your
passion
Power of
being
personal
Right &
well-told
story
Be a leader
Community
of support

17. BE MORE LIKE A DRAG QUEEN:
Know what makes a great
communicator/performer
Practice – experiment – discover training & tools -
fail – learn - evaluate
Look for information, inspiration and/or mentorship

18. Logos – ethos – pathos
Care about your digital presence
Network and discover who can help you
(free newsletter: The Scicommer)
(Belgian community: https://www.meetup.com/Scicomm-Belgium-Meetup/)
Choose something that fits your personality & talents,
your research, your stakeholders

20. @ResearchUGent
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
And thank you, RuPaul, for the inspiration and visuals…
If you only read one article, read this one: http://www.facetsjournal.com/article/facets-2016-
0055/
Esther De Smet
Research Department
December 2021