About
"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has take place"
George Bernard Shaw
Communication is inherent within research: for conferences, presentations, papers, engaging funders, creating social media, influencing decision-makers or reaching wider audiences.
However, science trains us to communicate in specific ways; often not the ways we would normally converse or share information with one another. Sometimes what we think we are saying is not always what people hear.
We believe that researchers and environmentalists are widely trusted and doing vital work for society, and our workshops help researchers be more effective in their roles by showing how to:
- draw upon psychology & social science to keep audiences listening
- design an effective narrative arc about you and your work
- ensure your key facts stick and are easier to grasp
- make you and your research area more relatable to people
- clarify, not dumb-down, important information
At a time when the work being done in environmental science is of critical importance, our participants gain useful tools and a replicable template for an array of different situations, and skills that increase the impact of them and their work.
As a result, in the last 13 years, the hundreds of researchers we’ve helped say their experience of talking about their work is so much better, that they are having much greater impact, it is helping their careers, and, importantly, it’s helping society to make important changes.
For over 13 years we have worked with some of the UK’s biggest science and environment institutions; training people in communication skills, press interviews, social media, and public engagement events. See recent clients. We've run, or taken part in, face-to-face and digital engagement with hundreds of thousands of public audiences from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Why do this?
- Ensure that you and your work is recognised
- Reach diverse public audiences
- Communicate with decision-makers
- Communicate with colleagues
- Give better presentations
- Improve funding bids
- Talk to Press & Media
Communicating is at the heart of everything
As scientists or specialists, you communicate your research to others within your field via conferences, scientific papers and policy documents. Yet few would ever class themselves as a ‘communicator’.
Our workshops emphasise that public engagement is not just an altruistic endeavour; there are countless benefits to participants’ careers, to funding opportunities and to the impact they have on stakeholders.
Helping to improve presentations, papers and articles, we cover the basic of good science storytelling, effective language use, elevator pitches, narrative arcs, barriers to engagement and value systems. In short, gain the skills that help you and your work to be recognised and acted upon.
Within an academic context, communication often falls to the comms department, the public engagement department or a handful of enthusiastic individuals. Yet ALL researchers and specialists benefit from becoming better communicators. By better communicating your research, you increase your paper citations, you can better pitch your research to funding bodies and grant-givers, and crucially, your research will be better understood and acted upon by policymakers, decision makers and other stakeholders. On the occasion that a media agency picks up on your work or requires an expert statement, you will better poised to deal with the rigours of a media appearance or interview.
Why us?
And don't just take our word for it ...
Read a Case Study and see more testimonials here
Finally we've also worked many times with 16-25 year-olds: we're proud that those same skills can help them find their voice about the future they face
Learn more
Siren Calling is Community Interest Company 8505068 - we believe in the value of communicating about our environment.