The workshop is aimed at postdoctoral and doctoral researchers. It raises awareness of the importance of impact, encourages participants to engage with the topic, and provides practical suggestions for considering societal impact as early as the planning and conduct of research. At the heart of the workshop is the question of how excellent research can find its way into societal, economic or political application – ideally contributing to making the world a better place.

Note: You will be working on your own research project! In preparation, you have to prepare a one-pager of your research project in advance and submit it along with your registration. These documents will form the basis for targeted preparation.

Trainer: Christoph Köller

What happens when your research attracts wider public interest? How do you explain complex findings clearly, give a good interview, and make sure your key messages are not lost along the way?

Whether media enquiries come directly to you or through your institution's communications team, researchers are often asked to explain their work to journalists and wider audiences. This workshop is designed for researchers who would like to feel more confident communicating their research beyond academia. Rather than focusing on social media or general science communication, the workshop concentrates on the specific skills involved in working with journalists and other media professionals: identifying a compelling story, pitching research, answering questions clearly, giving memorable interviews, and staying focused on the messages that matter.

Participants will practise turning academic research into a concise and engaging pitch, develop and deliver short interview answers, and experiment with techniques for handling difficult or unexpected questions. Particular attention will be given to "bridging" techniques that allow researchers to answer a question honestly while returning to the key message they want to communicate. This is an interactive workshop, with short inputs followed by practical exercises, peer feedback, and mock interviews. By the end of the three hours, participants will leave with a clearer understanding of what media professionals need from researchers, greater confidence communicating about their work, and a set of practical techniques they can use whenever opportunities arise to share their research with wider audiences.

Trainer: Christine Coester, Impact Unit iDiv

Turning research into practice requires more than a good idea. Understanding whose needs your research can address and who needs to be involved is key to creating meaningful societal impact.

This workshop is aimed at postdoctoral researchers and PhD students who want to strengthen the societal impact of their research. It focuses on identifying specific needs and mapping the relevant stakeholders for a transfer project. We aim to provide practical suggestions on how these requirements can be incorporated into research planning and implementation, so that participants can successfully put their ideas and research into practice for the benefit of society.

We will present examples and you can work on your own research project by applying the provided methods and knowledge.

Trainer: UFZ's WTT team