An introduction to science communication at #IROS2024

We’re pleased to announce that we will be giving a short introduction to science communication for roboticists at the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) this year. This will be held in person and via a livestream on Tuesday 15 October from 13:00 GST (09:00 UTC), and will be run in collaboration with IEEE Spectrum. If you fancy finding out how you can communicate your research to a general audience in different formats, then please do join us. Following an hour-long introductory talk, there will be an optional, open, drop-in session where you can try out some of the things you learnt in the course, ask any sci-comm questions, or chat about your ideas and stories.

Timetable

13:00 – 14:00 (GST) Talk: science communication for roboticists – introductory training
14:00 – 15:00 (GST) Open drop-in session for one-on-one support

Location

Meeting room 15, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

You can also watch online via a livestream. Register here.

About the session

Science communication is essential. It helps demystify robotics and AI for a broad range of people including policy makers, business leaders, and the public. As a researcher, mastering this skill can not only enhance your communication abilities but also expand your network and increase the visibility and impact of your work.

In this brief tutorial, leading science communicators in robotics and AI will teach you how to clearly and concisely explain your research to non-specialists. You’ll learn how to avoid hype, how to find suitable images and videos to illustrate your work, and where to start with social media. We’ll end with insight from mainstream media on how get your story out to a wider audience.

Agenda

Part 1: – Lucy Smith: How to communicate your work to a broader audience

• The importance of science communication
• How to produce a short summary of your research
• How to expand your outline to write a complete post
• How to find and use suitable images
• How to avoid hype when communicating your research

Part 2: – Evan Ackerman: Working with media

• Why bother talking to media anyway?
• How media works and what it’s good and bad at
• How to pitch media a story
• How to work with your press office

Part 3: – Laura Bridgeman: How to make videos about your robots

• The value of video
• Tips on making a video

Contact

If you would like to find out more, contact Lucy Smith at aihuborg[at]gmail.com.

Find out more

Visit our course webpage to see a more detailed agenda.

Lucy Smith is Senior Managing Editor for AIhub.

Lucy Smith is Senior Managing Editor for AIhub.