ComSciCon-CanWest will feature workshops, a keynote speaker, a panel, and Write-A-Thon session! Notes that all sessions are listed in Mountain Standard Time (MST). 

Friday,  November 13th: 17:00 - 19:00 MST

Friday will feature the conference welcoming as well as a chance to get to know your fellow attendees.

Saturday, November 14th: 10:00 - 15:30 MST

Workshop #1: We love to learn through stories, and science is full of exciting narratives. Narratives relating to discovery, failure and personal growth help to bring people inside the process of science and humanize scientists. In this workshop, attendees will explore ways to weave narrative elements into their science communication activities. They will identify ways to connect with diverse audiences through universal themes and explore the power of various storytelling strategies in engaging audiences and boosting their affinity for science.

Workshop #2:

In this session learners will go over some actionable strategies and approaches to implement inclusion in SciComm. They will develop understanding on how to use their privilege for better allyship. This interactive session will include a thorough conversation on the impact that privilege and performative allyship can have on the community

Themes:

i.             Actionable strategies to become better allies

ii.            Using our privilege for allyship (Privilege activity)

iii.           How to be better bystanders

iii.           How to foster inclusion in SciComm

Sunday, November 15th: 10:00 - 16:00 MST

	Event
10:00 – 11:30	Panel: Creative SciComm
11:30 – 12:00	Panel Debrief
12:00 – 12:45	Break
12:45 – 13:45	Concurrent Workshops Workshop #3a: A Guide to Science Communication Opportunities Across Canada Workshop #3b: How to communicate science to the (distracted) online reader
13:45 – 14:15	Workshop Debrief
14:15 – 14:45	Break
14:45 – 15:45	Expert Networking
15:45 – 16:00	Closing Remarks

Panel Overview: Science communication is no longer just the health column in the local newspaper. Today there are numerous ways of engaging with audiences, from in-person activities (i.e., classroom outreach, public talks) to digital platforms (i.e., podcasting, YouTube, social media).  This panel will bring together STEM storytellers and scientists with expertise in a variety of media to discuss science communication through these different outlet modalities and both the strengths and challenges of using these tools  to share knowledge with diverse audiences.

Workshop #3a: Today, there are a growing number of science communication opportunities across Canada, where graduate students can learn, practice and be paid while communicating science-related topics to a variety of publics. In this workshop, attendees will be introduced to this science communication landscape, and will explore opportunities related to science outreach, public speaking, writing, journalism, policy and much more, both in-person and in a virtual format. In addition, attendees will also learn what resources are available to them, if they choose to forge their own science communication path.

By the end, attendees will be able to identify the different opportunities available to build skills in and practice science communication, which can be used to guide next steps in their science communication journey after ComSciCon-CanWest.

Workshop #3b:Interested in sharing your research but not sure where to start? This hands-on workshop led by Alice Fleerackers will offer key tips and tricks for writing about your work for online audiences.

With a special focus on making science accessible, we'll take a deep dive into the world of web writing. We'll dig into everything from crafting headlines to optimizing content for digital reading, outlining essential best practices for each. We'll also cover the challenges and opportunities of writing for non-academic audiences, and learn some simple tools and strategies for putting these lessons into practice. Whether you're an established writer or just starting out, you'll learn why it's never too soon to share your research online.