Teaching Science Students to Communicate: A Practical Guide

Susan Rowland is Vice Provost at the University of Sydney. She was previously Professor of Science Education in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at the University of Queensland. A biochemist by training, she now researches employability development and the work of science faculty with education specialties. She enjoys teaching communication to scientists and is co-developer of the CLIPS website (www.clips.edu.au).Louise Kuchel is an Associate Professor of Biology and Science Education researcher at the University of Queensland, Australia. A biologist by training and award-winning teacher, Louise works on the theory and best practices for teaching science communication to scientists and science students, with her resources adopted in several countries. Louise is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and contributor to the CLIPS website (www.clips.edu.au).

• Part 1. THEORY CHAPTERS.- Chapter 1. The Rhetorical Triangle.- Chapter 2. The social brain and the neuroscience of  storytelling.- Chapter 3. Good Science Communication Considers Audience.- Chapter 4. On establishing trust.- Chapter 5. Intentional and unintentional messaging.- Chapter 6. Science graduates & communication in the workplace.- Chapter 7. Models of group decision-making.- Chapter 8. Data Visualisation.- Chapter 9. Misinformation and how to respond.- Chapter 10. Communicating in a space of conflict.- Chapter 11. Critical appraisal of information.- Chapter 12. Communicating risk and uncertainty.- Part 2. PRACTICE Engaging.- Chapter 13. The 5-box talk template for structuring a presentation to any audience.- Chapter 14. Getting students to express an opinion.- Chapter 15. Understanding your target audience through writing their biography.- Chapter 16. Using active learning techniques to engage audiences in oral presentations.- Part 3. PRACTICE Writing.- Chapter 17. Nominalisations - the battle against -me t, -tion, and -ery.- Chapter 18. Learning to write from the way you read.- Chapter 19. How to deconstruct when reading and construct when writing an abstract.- Chapter 20. Using the de-jargonizer and readability scores to help you write clearly.- Part 4. PRACTICE Distilling.- Chapter 21. Statements of Critical Significance (SOCS) for communicating succinctly.- Chapter 22. Infographics.- Chapter 23. Hooks & Headlines.- Chapter 24. Poetry as a device to distil science.- Chapter 25. Put the slides to one side - replacing static slides with a prop.- Part 5. PRACTICE Speaking.- Chapter 26. The think aloud protocol for obtaining feedback on writing.- Chapter 27. Show and speak to design compelling graphs & diagrams.- Chapter 28. Using Sentence Frames and Question Cards to scaffold verbal discourse - Scaffolded practice for engaging in discourse and argumentation in science.- Chapter 29. The power opening - how to grab your audience at the start of your talk.- Chapter 30. Physical presence - how to use your voice and body to be more dynamic speaker.- Chapter 31. Building powerful presentations through framing and a call to action.- Part 6. PRACTICE Listening.- Chapter 32. Mirror-mirror - learning to listen to your audience.- Chapter 33. See it, speak it, draw it and learn to communicate in simple language.- Chapter 34. Understanding the hidden meanings of words using The Word-Association Game.- Chapter 35. Learning to be part of the conversation through blogging and blog commenting.- Part 7. PRACTICE Investigating.- Chapter 36. Using a KLEWS chart to collect and organize information during investigations.- Chapter 37. The RADAR framework for evaluating sources of information.- Chapter 38. Forming a research question.- Part 8. PRACTICE Storytelling.- Chapter 39. Narrative arc, the hero, the villain, and the goal of a story.- Chapter 40. A practical guide to storytelling frameworks.- Chapter 41. The 5 fact story.- Chapter 42. Using the message triangle to distil complex research into a story.- Chapter 43. One-line stories as connections between slides.- Chapter 44. Iconic stories: learn and practice the principles of storytelling using visual cues with and, but, therefore narrative structures.- Chapter 45. Using art and reflection to do a deep dive into science.- Part 9. PRACTICE Communicating with intent.- Chapter 46. So what? Writing an impact statement.- Chapter 47. The Communicate with Intent Framework.- Chapter 48. The values affirmation exercise.- Chapter 49. Identifying personal beliefs and values through group sense making.- Chapter 50. Finding your authentic voice.- Chapter 51. Communicating for inclusion – using powerful images and language to support diversity in science.- Part 10. PRACTICE Genre.- Chapter 52. The Genre Switch Game.- Chapter 53. Creative Podcasting to Develop Content Knowledge and Communication Skills.- Chapter 54. A step-by-step procedure for developing and testing an effective analogy.- Chapter 55. The Conclusion - how to end a scientific report in style.- Part 11. PRACTICE Joining the conversation.- Chapter 56. Interactive writing - speaking with (not at) your audience.- Chapter 57. The "yes, and..." games and exercises to develop active listening and meaningful conversations.- Chapter 58. Active listening - learning through interviewing.- Chapter 59. The research roleplay: understanding the process of research and the role of research stakeholders.- Chapter 60. Embracing communication failures with joy.- Part 12. PRACTICE Arguing and organising.- Chapter 61. How to construct an evidence-based argument.- Chapter 62. Organising your communication using mind maps.- Chapter 63. Writing a project plan.- Part 13. PRACTICE Working.- Chapter 64. Building your personal pitch using a message framework.- Chapter 65. How to be a functional team member.- Chapter 66. Effective notetaking.- Chapter 67. My favourite no - How to Critique the Reasoning of Others.- Chapter 68. Understanding and articulating your value as a science graduate.- Chapter 69. How to conduct elicitation interviews with clients.