BEYOND

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION: TRANSFORMATIVE GEOGRAPHY FOR SUSTAINABILITY

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Description of course

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In recent years, applied research has shifted its focus towards addressing socially relevant issues by collaborating with civil society, administration, and businesses to co-produce solutions. This collaborative approach is considered essential in addressing the challenges of sustainable development. The project's aim is to identify and involve various stakeholders and target groups to gain their perspectives and knowledge for transformation. This approach aligns with ongoing discussions on sustainable development, emphasizing the integration of scientific insights with societal needs in facilitating policy-making. Effective communication of research to society, through various methods and media, plays a crucial role in achieving this goal. However, researchers often struggle to apply sustainable education due to a lack of practical skills and communication training. It is essential to provide communication training for students and researchers working on applied methodologies for NGOs, international organizations, civil society, and governmental bodies. Connecting scientific research with society is crucial not only to demonstrate its relevance but also to secure support, recognition, and funding from a diverse range of stakeholders. Thus, the seminar offers an opportunity to strengthen the education-society dialogues.

 

Content

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Our seminar combines various topics of sustainable development, issues of sustainability in the context of social and transformative learning, multimodal media, and research communication. Students will learn and critically reflect on different approaches to research communication as scientific outreach, understand the origins and goals of such communication, and experience the implementation by using practice-based methods.

 

What is learned?

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The seminar focuses on practical and theoretical aspects of research communication. It covers various communication outcomes such as social media campaigns, blogs, posters, short films, video essays, audio-visual installations, photo voice, and elicitation. The critical perspective of research communication and its significance in sustainable development is discussed and practical examples are shared. Emphasis is placed on the basics of research communication, including technology and necessary skills, non-fictional film language, post-production, and digital communication.At the end of the seminar, students will collaborate to develop a research communication event, specifically a science-society cafe to showcase their work. The seminar requires a high degree of initiative and commitment from students, and a letter of application is required. Please note the obligatory seminar dates and see the preparation assignment below.

 

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Learning outcomes

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• Develop technical and methodological knowledge for working with various media such as photography and films.

• Enhance methods and representation practices for these media.

• Gain deeper understanding and critical reflection skills for communicating about sustainable development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Focus areas include Climate Adaptation, Gender Empowerment, and Work & Health Care in the Global South.

• Acquire knowledge of theoretical approaches and concepts for education through sustainability, with an emphasis on critical research communication in disciplines such as geography, social anthropology, media studies, and related fields.

• Reflect on one's scientific work and consider questions related to representation.

• Co-organize and implement the Science Society Cafe (Team presentation), which involves engaging with the public outside of academia and reflecting on processes, ethics, and power relations in co-creation.