The work scientists do has never been more central to public life—and the ability to communicate that work with clarity, nuance, and humanity has never been more important. Whether they’re writing for the public, teaching students, preparing grant materials, presenting to policymakers, collaborating with journalists, or engaging with communities, researchers benefit from strong, flexible communication skills. To help researchers develop and hone those skills, The Open Notebook offers hands-on, practical trainings to help scientists share their work with confidence and impact.
Our workshops build on more than 15 years of experience creating accessible, in-depth tools and resources centered on the craft of science writing. They are highly interactive, grounded in real examples, and designed to help participants strengthen their communication skills through discussion, interactive exercises, and feedback.
We offer trainings in a modular format. Partner organizations can choose a single module or combine several to create a customized program that meets their goals and their participants’ needs.
Participants gain:
- Firsthand experience of writing about scientific research for a general audience
- Insights into collaborating with journalists to enhance public understanding of science
- Transferable communication skills applicable to roles in academia, communications, journalism, policy, nonprofits, consulting, and publishing
Who These Trainings Are For
Our science communication workshops are designed for:
- Graduate students
- Postdoctoral researchers
- Early-career scientists
- Research staff and faculty
- Anyone in science-facing roles who wants to communicate with broader audiences
(Looking for science communication trainings for journalists? You’ll find them here.)
Training Modules
Each module can be delivered as a standalone session or combined into a multi-session program. Workshops can be offered virtually or in person, and we tailor each one to the goals, expertise level, and disciplinary background of our partners.
Finding Compelling Stories in Your Research
Learn how to identify the story potential in your own work. This module helps participants surface the questions, tensions, and narrative threads hidden inside everyday research moments. We also explore four foundational qualities that make a story worth telling: It should be intriguing, timely, well supported by evidence, and original. Through guided exercises, participants practice applying these principles to shape research ideas into strong, engaging story concepts for a wide range of audiences.
Communicating Science as a Human Narrative
Some of the most memorable science stories don’t start with data—they start with people. This workshop explores how to uncover the human arc woven through the research process: the questions that spark a scientist’s curiosity, the challenges that shape the work, the moments of insight that move a project forward, and the emotions that accompany the process of discovery. Participants learn how to draw on these natural storytelling elements to craft narratives that invite audiences into the lived experience of science while remaining accurate and grounded.
Communicating about Uncertainty and Risk
Science is an incremental, deeply human process—not a fixed set of facts. Yet public conversations often treat uncertainty as weakness rather than what it truly is: a core feature of how science works. This session offers practical strategies for explaining what’s known, what isn’t, how strong the evidence is, and how findings may evolve. We’ll also explore how uncertainty shapes our ability to assess risk—what evidence suggests about potential harms or benefits and how confident we can be in those estimates. We’ll also consider how centering scientists as real people who—like everyone else—make mistakes and change their minds can help audiences better understand the research process. By normalizing uncertainty and communicating it clearly, scientists can foster trust and avoid overstating what the evidence supports.
Tuning Your Story for Different Audiences
Effective science communication starts with understanding what your audience needs from you. This module offers a practical framework for shaping stories around the decisions or actions a particular group must make. Participants learn to tailor emphasis, tone, and detail for different audiences: policymakers who need concise, system-level insights; funders who look for human stakes and tangible outcomes; patient communities who value clarity, empathy, and empowerment; and general audiences who connect with approachable, curiosity-driven narratives. The focus is on giving each audience what is most relevant and meaningful to them.
Working with Journalists
This module demystifies how science journalism works and offers practical guidance for building productive relationships with reporters. Participants learn how to share tips and story ideas, collaborate effectively with their institution’s communications staff, and navigate the realities of reporters’ deadlines and professional boundaries. We cover how to prepare for interviews, communicate clearly without jargon, use metaphors to illuminate key concepts, and highlight science as an iterative, self-correcting process. The session equips researchers to approach media interactions with confidence and to support accurate, trustworthy reporting.
Science Communication Ethics and Responsibility
Ethical communication is essential to maintaining public trust in science. This module looks at how to avoid hype, communicate uncertainty and limitations, and be transparent about methods, evidence strength, and potential conflicts of interest. Participants learn how to share preliminary or fast-moving findings responsibly and how to approach clinical or community-based research in ways that respect and accurately reflect the people involved. The focus is on practical principles that help scientists communicate thoughtfully and responsibly across a range of audiences.
Job Simulation: Reporting on Research
This hands-on workshop introduces participants to the core practices of science journalism. Participants learn how reporters assess which studies are newsworthy, identify promising story angles, and prepare for interviews that surface context, significance, and limitations. They practice evaluating the strength of the evidence and shaping it into clear, accurate, and engaging narratives for general audiences. The goal is to help scientists see their own work—and others’—through a journalist’s lens and to strengthen their ability to communicate research with clarity and insight.
What Participants Will Come Away With
Across modules, participants develop:
- A toolkit for identifying and shaping compelling stories within scientific work
- Skills for writing clearly and engagingly for non-expert audiences
- Experience tailoring communication to diverse audiences and contexts
- Confidence in explaining complex ideas without oversimplifying
- A deeper understanding of ethical and responsible communication practices
- Practical experience through structured exercises and real-time feedback
- Insights into how journalists work and how to collaborate effectively with them
Participants leave with communication strategies they can apply immediately—to writing, public talks, media interactions, interdisciplinary collaboration, outreach, and more.
Partnership Opportunities
We partner with scientific societies, universities, funders, and other organizations to help researchers develop their science communication skills.
Our workshops are:
- Interactive: Built around discussion, guided exercises, and hands-on practice
- Flexible: Offered virtually or in person
- Customizable: Tailored to the goals, scheduling needs, and disciplines of our partner institutions
- Scalable: Suitable for small cohorts or larger groups
For more information or to discuss hosting a virtual or in-person training through your institution, contact our training team at editors@theopennotebook.com.