Dissemination Event
Communicating Research for Academic and Public Engagement: Innovations, Insights, and Impact
Communicating Research for Academic and Public Engagement: Innovations, Insights, and Impact
You are invited to a two-day symposium that seeks to bring together researchers interested in enhancing their research communication skills, those conducting research on communication practices, and teachers who specialize in this field. The symposium aims to explore diverse strategies and innovative approaches to make research accessible and engaging to wider audiences.
25th and 26th of September 2025.
OsloMet, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway
Registration now open
Call For Contributions
Seeking contributions! Would you like to contribute a poster or a lightning talk to the symposium?
Do you do research in the areas of applied linguistics, language for specific purposes, communication studies, rhetoric and composition, writing studies, language education, researcher development or other related fields? Do you have recent research to share about communicating for public and academic engagement?Or do you teach or offer training in these areas and would like to present an innovative teaching method or project? Or are you a researcher who has experimented with new communication strategies and would like to share your successes and/or failures?We welcome submissions on any topic related to communicating research for academic and public engagement.
Topics could include, but are not limited to:
- Digital science communication
- Open science and communication strategies
- Social media strategies for research dissemination
- Communicating across disciplines
- The impact of cultural contexts on research communication
- Public understanding of science
- Science communication ethics
- Citizen science and community engagement
- Communicating controversial research
- Science outreach programs
- Multimodal communication strategies
- Media training for researchers
- Evaluating the effectiveness of communication strategies
- Developing and evaluating research communication training initiatives
Submitting an abstract for a poster
Please include the following:
- Presentation title
- Name and affiliation of presenter(s)
- Description of content of poster (max. 300 words). If applicable, your description could be structured as Aims/Objectives, Method, Results, Discussion/Conclusion. If a different organization of your abstract is better suited for your project or approach, that is fine as well.
Presenting your poster at the conference: You will be responsible for putting up your poster at the conference and for removing it after the conference.At least one presenter should be physically present to present the poster, answer questions, and engaging with other attendees during the poster-session at the conference. (Further practical details will be provided closer to the conference date.)
Submitting an abstract for a lightning talk
Lightning talks are an opportunity to present a central idea, whether it’s an interesting concept, a notable project, a cautionary tale, an invitation for collaboration, or a practical tip within 7 minutes. The goal is to spark conversations and engagement with your audience on a topic relevant to the conference theme. Given the 7-minute time limit, it’s essential to craft your idea into a concise message, so make sure you prepare!
Your abstract should include the following:
- Presentation title
- Name and affiliation of presenter(s)
- Presentation description (max. 300 words)
Deadline for submitting an abstract for a poster or a lightning talk: June 30th
Notification of peer-review process: July 20th
Symposium Programme
Day 1: September 25th, 12:30 - 17:00
Workshops and training for PhD candidates, early career researchers, and all researchers who wish to enhance their abilities to communicate for wide audiences
The first day is tailored for PhD candidates, early career researchers, and others with an interest in learning effective research communication strategies. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in two workshops, in addition to a masterclass with a panel of experts, where they can submit examples of their work for constructive feedback. (The master class will have limited places and requires separate registration).
Keynote Speakers of Day 1
Flexible writing for a world beyond academia
Scientific and academic writing are changing and increasingly include new genres aimed at a variety of audiences and for a variety of purposes, often beyond academic and specialist circles. After a brief introduction to this expanding ecology of genres, we will work hands-on through a guided writing task that is grounded in the participants’ own research. This task will include a sequence of activities including analysis of science communication genres, discussion of readers’ expectations, writing practice, and targeted peer feedback. Participants are required to bring an abstract for one of their papers (it is ok to make one up if none are available) and will leave with an initial draft of a science communication text about their research.
Raffaella Negretti
Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
Baraa Khuder
Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
From research to reach: Communicating science effectively on social media
This hands-on workshop introduces doctoral researchers to practical models of science communication tailored for digital and social media. In this workshop, we will explore different strategies—from storytelling threads on Twitter to engaging visual content on Instagram—highlighting the pros and cons of each. Through discussion and real examples, participants will reflect on their own online presence and experiment with crafting compelling posts about their own research. This workshop will help participants communicate science with clarity, creativity, and confidence.
Julio Gimenez
University of Westminster, London, UK
Day 2: September 26th, 9:00 – 16:00
Sharing research, experiences, and ideas
The second day focuses on researchers and teachers involved in various aspects of research communication. It includes two keynote talks, a poster session, lightning talks, and a roundtable conversation. We invite submissions for poster presentations or lightning talks (7 minutes each) from researchers and teachers.
PhD candidates who present a poster or a lighting talk will receive a registration fee waiver and may apply for a limited number of € 400 travel grants.
Keynote Speakers of Day 2
Digital writing experiences: How STEMM women scientists craft new genres
This talk explores how female scientists experience writing for science communication in the digital environment. I will begin by outlining the innovative research design that enabled the exploration of these digital writing experiences from the unique perspectives of women in science. Drawing on three compelling case studies, I will then illustrate how these scientists actively claim their expertise by crafting new genres. They use these digital forms to highlight research that traditional publication practices often obscure. This discussion will also offer insights into the specific training needs of early career female scientists such as digital multimodal composing skills, writing processes, and digital literacies
Oana Maria Carciu
University of Zaragoza, Spain
Digital dialogues: Researching and teaching science communication for a diverse world
This session explores current approaches to researching and teaching science communication with a focus on inclusion, interdisciplinarity, and digital engagement. Drawing on case studies and classroom practices, the session examines how communicators can navigate complex online environments, reach underserved audiences, and reflect critically on the power dynamics of public science. The session offers perspectives and practical insights for shaping science communication that resonates widely and meaningfully. Participants may sign up for both days or pick the day that best fits their needs.
Julio Gimenez
University of Westminster, London, UK