This is a free media training workshop organised by ANU Media and the Australian Science Media Centre.

When an issue is controversial, the science can easily get lost in emotion, politics and even conspiracy theories. It can be tempting for researchers in contentious areas to avoid the media altogether because they fear being misunderstood or find it too hard to get their points across. But if public understanding of science is to improve, it is important for researchers to be part of the national conversation. And entering the media fray can have benefits for your research too.

During this online session, Dr Susannah Eliott and Dr Joseph Milton from the Australian Science Media Centre will provide you with some practical tips on how to navigate public engagement through the media when you work in a potentially contentious field.

We’ll also cover another common issue for researchers – when the science is so complicated, it can seem almost impossible to communicate to a lay audience. We’ll look at strategies to help you simplify and explain tricky science to a journalist or the public without ‘dumbing it down’ too much.

This workshop will take place online and is open to ANU researchers and PhD students.

Participants will be emailed a link for the session upon registration.