Outreach workshop series

The CRBLM, Brain Reach, Science Policy Exchange, and The Convergence Initiative are offering a series of workshops on science communication and knowledge mobilization.
The workshops will cover a range of approaches, target audiences, and aspects of the process of planning and delivering science outreach projects.

Participants are welcome to attend all or a subset of the four workshops, registration is required.

Workshop descriptions:

 

Introduction to Knowledge Translation Planning / Inbal Itzhak, CRBLM

• Tuesday, July 23rd, 15:00-18:00, 2001 McGill-College, room #464

Knowledge translation refers to the process of sharing and exchanging knowledge between knowledge producers and knowledge users with the goal of informing and improving practices, for example, in areas like healthcare and education.

This workshop will introduce participants to the knowledge translation planning template developed at SickKids hospital. This template is an evidence-based guide to knowledge translation project planning. It is applicable to any research area and can be used for developing knowledge translation plans for grant applications.

Participants will consider the reasons for planning knowledge translation projects, discuss example projects, and draft a project plan of their own.

 

Building the Bridges Between Science and Policy / Vanessa Sung and Shawn McGuirk, Science & Policy Exchange

• Friday, August 2nd, 15:00-18:00, 2001 McGill-College, room #464

Science and Policy Exchange’s former co-presidents Vanessa Sung and Shawn McGuirk will present a three-hour workshop with three highlights.

1. We will present a general introduction to science policy, from both sides (science for policy and policy for science). The importance of relationship-building between science and government for evidence-based policy making will be discussed. We will also discuss how early career researchers and trainees can get involved.
2. We will share our experience creating initiatives to promote the student voice in science policy, using the example of our #Students4thereport campaign. This campaign contributed to reinvestment in science in the 2018 federal budget and led us to meet key opinion leaders across academia and the government.
3. Finally, a case study will provide the participants with hands-on experience in presenting science advice and fostering relationships with the government.

Overall, participants will learn the basics of science policy and understand how researchers, in particular, early-career researchers can take an active role in addressing policy issues at the local, federal and international levels.

No prerequisite, all levels are welcome.

 

Zine Making Workshop: Spread the Word about Your Research! / Bettina Forget and Cristian Zaelzer, The Convergence Initiative

• Friday, August 9th, 15:00-18:00, 2001 McGill-College, room #464

In this workshop you will learn how to make a zine. Derived from the word “magazine,” a zine is an independent, grass-roots publication that can be easily and cheaply produced and distributed. You will be introduced to a short history of zine making and basic layout and typography guidelines, and then proceed to create your own zine. The focus of your zine will be to spread the word about your research: this could be a key insight, a compelling research question, or maybe a crowdsourcing tool for you to collect data. At the end of the workshop, all participants will showcase and discuss their zines.

 

Accessible Neuroscience in Schools and Remote Communities / Noor Al-Sharif and Ana Elisa Farias De Sousa, BrainReach

• Friday, Agust 16th, 15:00-18:00, 2001 McGill-College, room #464

BrainReach Elementary co-president Noor Al-Sharif and BrainReach North co-president Ana Elisa Farias De Sousa will present a three-hour workshop on engaging students near and far through hands-on neuroscience In schools.

1. We will discuss the importance of supplementing science education in underserved schools and in remote and Indigenous communities. We will highlight the strengths of using accessible neuroscience to inspire a love of science in students and discuss our approach to designing science outreach content for schools. We will also highlight the importance of involving graduate students in disseminating science through direct engagement with school students.
2. We will share our experiences engaging with schools serving Indigenous communities in remote regions of northern Quebec. We will discuss the importance of being sensitive to the cultural context when reaching out to students from Indigenous backgrounds and the importance of promoting representation of Indigenous students and professionals in STEM fields. We will describe some of the partnerships we are developing within and outside of McGill for Indigenous outreach.
3. Finally, we will present a sample of our neuroscience-based science outreach sessions designed for school students. Participants will experience first-hand the joy of discovery through relatable, accessible experiments in neuroscience. The session will demonstrate how we put into practice some of the principles of active learning discussed in the first part of the workshop.

Registration: