News

Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) has been awarded a Science Communication Skills grant of $19,394 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to launch a new communication and knowledge dissemination program called Speak Science Simply.

“In a time when misinformation has gained significant momentum, we need to reintroduce, and raise awareness of, the value of science,” said Dr. Valerie Henitiuk, Vice-President Academic and Provost at CUE. “Scientific training has historically lacked the development of communication skills, leaving public education to traditional and social media. Our hope is that this program will help to fill the existing gaps and empower scientists to share their research broadly.”

Launching in 2021, Speak Science Simply aims to provide individuals involved in science and research with the skills and confidence to communicate effectively and share their work with the general public. The program will cover topics from telling persuasive stories to leveraging social media to managing controversy, and will be led by a multidisciplinary team from CUE’s Faculties of Science and Education with the support of leaders from the institution and experts in communication, including Take Roots Consulting.  

“We are excited to offer this program to students, scientists, and researchers,” said Dr. Cecilia Bukutu, Speak Science Simply Program Lead and Director of the Department of Public Health at CUE. “Speak Science Simply has been designed to be applicable across scientific fields and includes eight modules focused on developing strong communication skills. By engaging a diverse group of participants, we hope to remove existing barriers and make the scientific community accessible and more transparent.” 

Learn more: Speak Science Simply.