1. Communications and Outreach Module
COMP 41380
Dr Aoibhéann Bird, Insight Education and Public Engagement
Mr Philip Smyth

2. Who are you?
Introduction – Before I’ve done this part. Ask the students who they are etc and then following that get them to write on a white board what exactly it is they want to get out of the module. AB or PS can do this
4 things about yourself- name, where you work, what you’re working on, some interesting fact about yourself AB

3. Who are we? Only fair that we both introduce ourselves in more detail
Basically we explain to them why we’re suitable to teach them this stuff and why we think matters
We’re deadly and they need to know it  PS

4. Philip PS

5. Aoibhéann AB

6. What is outreach? Reaching out to different audiences
Talking about your research
Consider demographics
Ok so the module is called Comms and Outreach … so we ask them what, in their opinion, is outreach.
We then discuss who we talk too and why each group is important in its own way. I can lead this slide if you can do the next one explaining the 7 demographics that we talk to. PS

7. Different audiences Primary school Secondary school Third level
Fourth level
General public
Industry
Inreach
AB to introduce the different 7 demographics and why each is important.
Primary kids – to inspire the future
2nd – to encourage them to choose science and if not have a value attached to it
3rd – to show the opportunities available to them (PhD, MSc)
4th – To train, to get to work with,
GP – they pay our salaries – government policy makers
Industry – to get to work with us and PRODUCE something – for funding issues
Inreach – the right knows what the left hand is doing, wealth of expertise in house

8. Why Outreach?
Communication skills needed by researchers, outreach activities give you those skills
Ask the students why do you think working in an outreach setting is of benefit to them? PS

9. Why Outreach?
Communication skills needed by researchers, outreach activities give you those skills
Funding agencies increasingly require outreach component
Enhances own understanding at fundamental level, gives perspective
Tailor talks- style, content, suitability (audience)
Value- collective- institute
Want people to know
Want people to understand
If you can explain it to a 10 year old- you can explain it to anyone
Presentation skills
If you can explain something to a 10 year old, you can explain it to anyone. Taking something complex and simplifying it with a context. This ideal can be applied to a thesis in order to explain it to a member of the public. It can be applied to a research project and explaining to a non expert audience. PS

10. Picture within a picture
Explaining something that you are so invested in is very difficult. To explain a topic you need to present it in a context that your audience can relate to. Often researchers think that they have comprehensively explained their work but they may not be as clear as they believe.
Exercise. AB

11. Picture within a picturePS

12. 10 contact hours covering
Overview of module
10 contact hours covering
Presentation skills, learning styles
Communication skills
Interactive presentation skills
Peer review skills
Expert speakers PS

13. Timetable Thursdays – 1pm-2pm in B108, CSI Outreach session - TBC Date
Content
Thurs 24th September
Introduction
Thurs 1st October
Presentation Heroes
Thurs 8th October
Outreach workshop/ Intro to Thesis in 3
Thurs 15th October
Outreach practice
Thurs 22nd October
Guest speaker – Barry Brophy - Presentation skills
Thurs 29th October
Thesis in 3
Thurs 5th November
Outreach Practice
Thurs 12th November
Outreach Session & Review (2hrs) (Science Week)
Thurs 19th November
Outreach Review Session
Thurs 26th November
Overall Review session AB
Barry Brophy – School of electrical and electronic engineering
Thursdays – 1pm-2pm in B108, CSI
Outreach session - TBC

14. COMP 41380 To pass this module students need to:
Attend at least 80% of the workshops/seminars
Students must regularly submit to online blog- and submit a module report AB

15. Why primary level? Easy to arrange
10 years old- explain to anyone, blindside question
Supervisor focus
Perspective PS

16. Comments from PhD students
“It was great to have the opportunity to take part in outreach activities, which were the highlight of the module and I found them to be very rewarding”
This module “helped me appreciate how developing my communication skills to become a better speaker can enhance my own profile and value”
The module “helped improve my own communication and interpersonal skills” PS

17. Comments from 5th Class students
“Don’t tell the other classes to go because I want to go again”
“it was so intriguing and fascinating, of all our mini school tours this was the best”
“I think you guys are all geniuses. But especially Brendan”
“Both my parents love science, so now I can show them all the cool stuff you showed us” PS
“Both classes absolutely loved it. They’re still talking about the experiments and the people they met.” – A. Mullaly, teacher

18. Homework Take a look at YouTube, Ted, etc.
Look for own example of excellent speaker
Post links to speakers on blog
Looking for what traits make a good presenter
Looking for what traits make a bad presenter
Examples will be discussed in the next session AB

19. Summary
What
Why
How
When PS