There is a growing demand and responsibility for science to make a positive impact on society. To achieve this, researchers are increasingly expected and motivated to communicate their findings publicly and engage with non-academic actors, however in some cases, they face unwelcome, aggressive reactions. Researchers can become targets of impertinent attacks, hate speech, trolling campaigns, or even physical threats, which can be distressing and can undermine their credibility as experts. Skills in dealing with such attacks, or strategies of how to build resilient communication campaigns and engagement plans often do not play a central role in university curricula and the daily routines of research institutes. Approaches to dealing with such attacks, and wider strategies of how to build resilient and safeguarded communication campaigns and engagement plans are therefore essential skills for researchers.
This training programme is tailored to early career researchers who want to learn how to avoid or deal with hostility and hate speech attacks, where to find help, and most importantly how to create their own communication and engagement strategy in order to maximise their impact beyond academia.
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