Details
Client/Funder:
Bioversity International
Type of work:
Presentation skills
Public engagement training
Date:
2014 – 2017
Website:
Biodiversity International
Author:
David Price
Date written:
17/09/20
Case Study
Sometimes when attending academic conferences, researchers find themselves with a speaking slot just before lunch or at the very end of the conference day when minds are tiring and attention is drifting. In these circumstances it can often be difficult for speakers to stand out from the crowd and get their research noticed.
Bioversity International decided to do something about this and hired Science Made Simple to design and run high energy training programmes for its research teams to help bring their science messages to life.
Each programme took place over an intensive two days, with participants working to energise and clarify 3-minute presentations they had developed during previous training modules. The contrast between the presentations from the beginning and the end of the days was really marked, with attendees placing far more emphasis on the story of their research and their personal research journey in the final version.
“The course was carried out in Rome, Montpellier and Kampala, and trained 44 staff representing eight country offices. The needs of our scientists were very different in the three locations. SMS trainers listened very carefully to our feedback…we really appreciated their flexibility in changing and adapting the course content and their own style to our researchers’ needs.”
“We worked with four excellent trainers, with very different personalities and talents. What they all had in common was their enthusiasm and passion that inspired our scientists to communicate their work in a more engaging way. After the 2-day course, we were able to see some researchers really transformed.”