ComSciCon-GTA will feature workshops, a keynote speaker, and Write-A-Thon session! A block schedule can be found here, and below is an overview of what you have to look forward to! A detailed, beautiful program can be found here.
Saturday, September 26th
Getting started in SciComm workshop with Dr. Sara Mazrouei: In this workshop, ComSciConGTA attendees will be introduced to the growing landscape of science communication in Canada. By the end, attendees will be able to describe the different avenues available to build and practice science communication. Attendees will also be able to identify areas of interest and/or growth, which can be used as a point of reflection while learning throughout the conference.
SciComm and Social Media workshop with Sarah Habibi: This workshop will focus on defining what science communication is and how to effectively take part in science communication on social media. We will explore a series of five key steps to follow when communicating science online, and outline how to cater content to different social media platforms. I will share the research-driven approach that I have developed for assessing and maximizing user engagement with various forms of educational science content online. This workshop uses over 3 years of hands-on science communication experience to showcase what works and what doesn’t work, and applies personal experiences to each. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet other science communicators, engage in small discussions, ask questions, and even create content for review. I hope attendees will leave the workshop feeling inspired and excited to start communicating science online.
Keynote talk; Wandering My Way into Canadian Science Communication: Lessons Learned and Ideas on Where to Start with Dr. Cylita Guy: The Canadian science communication community continues to grow. With more and more opportunities to learn about and practice science communication it’s an exciting time. However, getting started and finding your niche in the community can be a daunting task. While there is no “right” or singular way to become a science communicator, using my experiences and the work of other amazing Canadians as examples, I’ll share some lessons I’ve learned that may help in your journey. I’ll also talk about how I found my own unique space and why this is such an exciting time to be joining the Canadian science communication community.
Tuesday, September 29th
Science outreach workshop with Dr. Rachel Ward-Maxwell and Vishnu Ramcharan: Who benefits from science outreach in society? Join us for an exploration of community engagement, public outreach, and science storytelling in this interactive workshop.
Thursday, October 1st
Science writing workshop with Dan Falk: In this workshop, award-winning science journalist Dan Falk will talk about some of the techniques that are central to good science writing. We’ll look at the elements of non-fiction writing in general, and examine the differences between journalism and other forms of non-fiction. And we’ll focus on the unique problems associated with science writing, and the often challenging task of presenting complex ideas to a non-specialist audience. We’ll analyze a couple of short works by notable science writers, and participants will have a chance to hone their own work through some brief exercises.
Note that the Write-A-Thon session will take place outside of conference hours. More information on this will be available to accepted ComSciCon-GTA applicants.