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Communicating Your Research

How to reach a wider audience 

Spring 2026, Chicago Campus

Faculty are invited to attend a series of in-person and virtual workshops co-sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Office of Global Marketing and Communication (OGMC). Faculty may sign up for one or more workshops. Space is limited.  

These sessions will provide: 

  • Ways to talk about your research that will resonate with the public as well as with your disciplinary peers 
  • Skills for communicating the impact of your research—why it matters and why you do it—clearly and succinctly 
  • Opportunities to prepare and workshop your message and get feedback 
  • Advice for how to work with journalists and the media, including on-camera training 
  • OGMC also offers interview tips, advice for writing op-eds and other resources. 

Questions? Contact faculty@northwestern.edu 

Date Session Details

April 21, 2026, 2:00-3:30 p.m. 

Gray Seminar Room, Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center, 303 E. Superior Street, Chicago (In-person only) 

 

Engaging New Audiences 

We all use jargon to communicate, sometimes without even realizing it. The first step in reaching new audiences is using language that builds bridges rather than barriers to understanding.   

  • Gain tools and simple techniques to reach audiences with varying degrees of background knowledge.    
  • Better communicate how essential your work is in the most accessible way to others.   
  • Explore ways to get any audience excited about your work (and scientific research). 

Patti Wolter is the Helen Gurley Brown Magazine Professor in the Medill School of Journalism and the director of the Medill Media and Science Communication certificate program for STEM Ph.D. students. Her current work centers on narrative, fact-checking, and science communication.  

Register here 

May 6, 2026, 2:00-3:30 p.m. 

Gray Seminar Room, Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center, 303 E. Superior Street, Chicago (In-person only) 

Distilling Your Message  

How to talk about research in ways that will resonate with the public as well as with disciplinary peers. 

  • Learn how to communicate your research succinctly, yet accurately, and in an engaging way 
  • Explore accurate ways to start with the ‘why’ your work matters to your audience.   
  • Practice techniques to understand and engage your audience 
  • Increase your confidence in communicating to the public 

Facilitator Heather L. Barnes, former director at the John G. Shedd Aquarium and the Museum of Science and Industry, integrated improvisational techniques to communicate complex information and create innovative programs for millions of museum guests. Currently, she is the CEO of Improv @ Work, LLC and teaches MBA students executive communication skills at the Kellogg School of Management.  

Register here 

May 12, 2026, 2:00-3:30 p.m. 

Gray Seminar Room, Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center, 303 E. Superior Street, Chicago (In-person only) 

Crafting Talking Points Media Training 

Every successful media interview begins with solid preparation. A key part of that prep is developing clear, succinct, lay-friendly talking points that help you communicate your message effectively. The Media Relations team in the Office of Global Marketing and Communications is here to guide you through that process. This new in-person workshop will be highly interactive. You will learn  

  • The fundamentals of talking points  
  • How to write them for your area of expertise and how to refine them 
  • How to deliver them confidently by practicing in front of your peers so that you feel prepared to use your talking points in a future media interview 

Office of Global Marketing and Communications Media Relations team will facilitate this session. Learn more about media training on their website.  

Register here. 

Writing support

In addition to programming on communicating your research, the Office of the Provost offers a variety of programs to support your scholarly writing, including on-site writing groups, writing retreats, and workshops.