Course
Popular Science Writing - 1.5 ECTS
Science for Impact is the motto of WUR. Likely, your PhD project will be interesting for an audience broader then the academia. Your results can be brought to a societal audience in many ways, such as blogs, newspaper articles, popular magazines, etc. But there is a clear distinction between writing for science and writing for society. In the course Popular Science Writing you will be trained in attractive and engaging writing and learn how to reach your targeted audience.
The course Popular Science Writing exists of six two-hour online sessions. During the course participants will write on articles, after the course these articles can be ready for publishing. For each session there will be an assignment that will be discussed during the session. The lecturer will give feedback and will explain how a story can be made more attractive for a bigger audience.
Schedule
Session 1 | 20-5-2021 | 10.00-12.00 |
Session 2 | 27-5-2021 | 10.00-12.00 |
Session 3 | 10-6-2021 | 10.00-12.00 |
Session 4 | 17-6-2021 | 10.00-12.00 |
Session 5 | 1-7-2021 | 10.00-12.00 |
Session 6 | 8-7-2021 | 10.00-12.00 |
Learning outcomes
After successful completion of this course, participants are expected to be able to:
understand the importance of writing for science for a bigger audience
learn what is interesting and relevant for a bigger audience, and what is not
set up a writing plan: from idea to text plan
balance between complexity and cleareness
formulate actively and animated
structure clearly
apply popularisation techniques
approach an editorial office, and get them on board
Lecturer
Your trainer, Arend Hulshof is a journalist, writer and trainer. He has been chief editor of Wordt Vervolgd, the journalism magazine of Amnesty International. Since 2019 he is also editor of the Dutch journal Trouw.
Besides, he also provides trainings to professionals on accessible and enganging writing. In 2016 he published his first novel Rijpstra’s Ondergang, about mayors dilemmas in times of War. He is currently working on his second book, a biography on Darja Collin (one of the best Dutch Ballerina’s).
Target group and min/max number of participants
This course is intended for PhD candidates, preference will be given to PhD candidates of WUR, PhD candidates from other universities will only be admitted when places remain available; 11 min/15 max participants
Course fee
WGS PhDs with TSP | € 250 |
a) All other PhD candidates b) Postdocs and staff of the above mentioned Graduate Schools | € 500 |
All others | € 750 |
NB: for some courses, PhD candidates from other WUR graduate schools with a TSP are also entitled to a reduced fee. Please consult your Education/PhD Programme Coordinator for more information