Resources

Inspiring Australia provides our country with a strategic and coordinated approach to science engagement, including showcasing Australia’s multibillion dollar investment in science and research.

Inspiring Australia has built a national leadership network to support the delivery of this strategy. With a presence on the ground in every state and territory and across hundreds of communities, the co-ordinated efforts of Australia’s science communicators have allowed us to better engage Australians in the sciences.

To this foundation Inspiring Australia can now add this suite of practical tools to further assist science communicators, researchers, journalists and policy makers in their science engagement activities.

Inspiring Australia’s tools have been developed by experts to add quality, impact and influence to our science engagement tasks, whether you’re a:

• Researcher needing social media training or needing to overcome fears about speaking with the media;

• Journalist looking for infographics, where a picture tells a thousand words;

• Minister wanting to share the impact of your multi-million dollar investment;

• Business group trying to source a scientist to explain the science behind a relevant issue;

• Policy maker needing to evaluate your science engagement activities;

• Science communicator looking for best practice in science engagement;

• Scientist in need of expert advice about how to best communicate your specific discipline; or an

• Event organiser keen to know how to engage unlikely audiences during one of Australia’s biggest festivals – National Science Week.

Become skilled at using social media – blog, tweet & podcast

Receive training through a series of online short videos focused on blogging, tweeting and podcasting to enhance your skills in promoting science and research messages.

Writing skills for social media 

In this two-week online training course, you will learn how to engage and write for social media.

Learn to speak to the media

Learn how to pitch a story and make it newsworthy, how to handle a media interview and work with journalists through this online programme.

Learn to speak to the media
Learn how to pitch a story and make it newsworthy, how to handle a media interview and work with journalists through this online programme.

Access graphics, animations and visuals for breaking news

Science Media Exchange provides an online space for posting and sharing use of science-related visual material to enhance the messages of scientists, science communicators and journalists.

Science journalism modules

Journalists, scientists and science communicators can enrol in modules that address how to report and communicate science. For undergraduate, postgraduate and working journalists, learn how to be effective at communicating science across a range of mediums on a variety of topics. Find out more from the University of Queensland.

Introduce school students to science and the media
A series of resources developed for school science students and delivered in class which discuss science and how it is covered in the media. These resources can be used as preparation to tackle a topic with students or as resources to engage students in science.

Improve your science literacy and communication skills
Interactive online sessions are available for journalists to improve their understanding of science and how to communicate science-related topics to a general audience.

Improve your science literacy and communication skills
Interactive online sessions are available for journalists to improve their understanding of science and how to communicate science-related topics to a general audience.