8:00-10 a.m., October 20, 2011

W401 Pappajohn Business Building

 

“Telling Your Research Story” was a panel discussion designed to help University of Iowa researchers across the disciplines learn how to become better storytellers, whether the goal is to inform, educate or persuade. The panel, which included researchers and professional communicators, shared best practices and tips for “translating” technical and complex areas of research into accessible language and finding a narrative for your work that is clear, compelling and effective.

 

A panel of UI researchers who have had particular success in these areas shared best practices, providing strategies for thinking and talking about research, even when it’s of a highly technical nature, in a way that makes sense to non-specialist audiences, including through the use of metaphor and illustration; preparing for interviews with reporters; and navigating the tricky waters of discussing research that is potentially controversial.

The four panelists were Jerry Schnoor from Civil & Environmental Engineering, Amy Sparks of In Vitro Fertilization and Reproductive Testing Laboratories, Don Gurnett from Physics & Astronomy and Meenakshi Gigi Durham from Journalism (read bios).  Additionally, several communication colleagues were on hand to talk about campus communication and media relations. 

 

To view a photo slideshow of the event, please visit the Iowa Environmental Focus blog, a project of the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research.

 

 

“Telling Your Research Story” was sponsored by University of Iowa Communication and Marketing (formerly University Relations), the UI Center for Global & Regional Environmental Research and the UI Office of the Vice President for Research.