This 3-credit course aims to teach doctoral students how to communicate their research to different audiences. It is directed by Cormac McGrath and includes presentations, seminars, and reflection activities. Through practicing oral presentations to varied groups, reflecting on literature about communication skills, and receiving feedback, students will learn to present their work adapted for general audiences, peers, and scientific contexts. Assessment includes a reflective statement and final oral presentation. The course supports the Dublin descriptors for doctoral education in communicating research to peers and society.

1. To Communicate Science in Different
Contexts, 3 credit points
Course director: Cormac McGrath
Teachers: Cormac McG, Ronny Sejersen,
Anneliese Lilienthal
Administrator: Ingrid Smedberg
Unit for Medical Education, UME
Dept of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics (LIME)

2. The more you share it the better it
becomes!
You + your project – your
treasure
• Status & satisfaction
• Societal impact
• Scientific impact

3. Dublin descriptors, joint agreement for
doctoral education
[The doctoral student] ”can communicate with their
peers, the larger scholarly community, and with
society in general about their areas of expertise”
(Dublin descriptors 3rd (doctoral) cycle)

4. The Swedish Higher Education Ordinance
(Högskoleförordningen)
§ For the Degree of Doctor the third-cycle student shall
demonstrate the ability in both national and
international contexts to present and discuss
research and research findings authoritatively in
speech and writing and in dialogue with the
academic community and society in general
(Dublin descriptors 3rd (doctoral) cycle)

5. ”The ability to deliver a polished oral
presentation in front of an audience of
peers is an essential skill for a successful
scientist”
(Anholt, ”Dazzle ’em with style” p XVI)

6. Intended Learning outcomes
After the course the participants will be able
to:
§ Orally present own
research adapted to
different audiences
§ Reflect on presentation skills
and the ability to adapt to
different audiences
Action Reflection
Experience and feedback from participants and teachers

7. How can we train to develop our skills to
communicate science?
§ Raise awareness about different ways to present
§ Reflect on important aspects in communication
à Biological constraints in perception and meaning making
à Rhetorical tools for analysing and preparing presentations
à Different character and needs of different audiences
§ Practical experience of presenting one’s project in different
situations
à Practice with feedback

8. Block1 Block 2 Block 3

9. Oral presentation in small group (5 persons)
Prepare presentation with key words
• General public audience
• Clear main message
• 4-5 min
• No Powerpoint
• Videofilmed for feedback
(Block 2)

10. Literature seminars in groups (peer discussion)
§ Read literature (Anholt book + papers)
§ Process literature by group discussion using questions in
Appendix 2 in course outline
§ Send group summary to Samuel. (paper or email)
(Block 2)

11. Poster presentation – the scientific
context
§ Prepare a poster, need not be authentic data
§ Print A4 or A3
§ Prepare oral presentation - scientific context,
2minutes
§ Allowed to team up with others
à Indivudually or in groups of 2-3
(Block 3)

12. Two examination tasks
§ Reflective statement
à Based on own experience, feedback and literature.
§ Oral presentation
à Oral presentation in small group
à With Powerpoint
à 4-5 minutes
(Block 3)

13. § Communication
§ Presentation technique
§ Classical Rhetoric
§ Reflection on literature
§ Different media
Summary of course content
Your active
participation!