Policy Fellowships in Scientific Communication

[RealityKing]

Deadline 30th June 2018

Scientific communication is a key component of modern research programs, and an increasing amount of training is being given to early career scientists in order to communicate their research effectively. This communication is primarily focused on public engagement in science, in order to encourage school students into technical education and raise public awareness of scientific progress. A less well-developed but similarly important aspect of science communication is how to communicate the outcomes of research programs effectively to policy-makers and other policy stake-holders in order to inform evidence-based policy making on a variety of levels.

Universities act as important sources of knowledge, expertise and research for policy makers. However, for policy makers, finding the expertise that is needed – and quickly – can be a challenge. For researchers, the challenge often lies in expressing your research in a way that is accessible to policy makers, who are unlikely to be an expert in your own discipline.

The DARA Big Data Science Policy Fellowships program will provide training for scientists in communicating with policy makers. The program is open to current PhD students and early career researchers who are within 5 years of completing their PhD, working in the DARA Big Data key areas of Astronomy, Sustainable Agriculture and Health.

​Applicants must be nationals of AVN countries, namely: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia.

The training program is one month long and will run from 1 October - 31 October 2018 at the University of Manchester, UK. The program will provide travel, accommodation and subsistence costs for fellows during the training program.

Fellows will be embedded in their equivalent research group at the University of Manchester for the duration of the training and will split their time between scientific research and policy communication training from Policy@Manchester.

Applications are particularly encouraged from women, minority groups and researchers from historically disadvantaged universities within South Africa. Up to five fellowships will be offered.

See more https://www.darabigdata.com/about