Effective science communication helps bring research beyond university walls, make science accessible to wider audiences, and open up new opportunities for collaboration and career development. This winter semester, Czech Technical University in Prague is launching SciComm Lab, a series of hands-on workshops designed to help researchers develop their communication skills.
SciComm Lab (short for science communication laboratory) builds on previous activities organized by the Department of Science and Research at the CTU Rectorate. Last semester, these included workshops on the fundamentals of science communication and creating videos for social media.
Before the summer break, a SciComm Meetup was also held at the Husovka café, bringing people together to share best practices and build a community around science communication. These activities are now being brought together under the SciComm Lab brand, with the program expanding to cover new topics.
The workshops are primarily designed for doctoral students, but more experienced researchers and PR and communications professionals are also welcome. The latter especially can use what they learn to communicate research outcomes from their institutions and projects more effectively or share their knowledge with colleagues. Workshop venues rotate across CTU facilities to make the program more accessible to the entire university community.
Winter Semester Program
- 23 October | Confident Presentation Skills (EN) – Learn how to structure a presentation, engage your audience, and manage presentation nerves, both in person and online. Led by Tom Carruthers, a digital strategist and former Communications Manager at the Australian Academy of Science.
- 5 November | Build Your Research Profile on LinkedIn (EN) – Discover how to use LinkedIn to showcase your research, build a professional network, and advance your academic career. Led by Karolína Pštross, Science Communication Coordinator at CTU and a PhD candidate in Media and Communication Studies at Charles University.
- 20 November | Visual Communication & Data Storytelling (EN) – Learn how to transform complex data and research findings into clear, engaging visual stories. Led by Radka Pittnerová from the National Library of Technology, who specializes in visual communication and supporting the academic community.
- 4 December | Media Training (CZ) – Learn how to interact with the media, handle challenging questions from journalists, and speak confidently on camera. Led by Štěpánka Duchková, an experienced television and radio presenter and media communication trainer.
All workshops are free of charge and open to participants from all CTU faculties and units. The first three workshops will be held in English, while the final media training session will be in Czech. Places are limited, so early registration is recommended via the links provided for each workshop.
