“Strategic Communication for Participatory Science Practitioners” ran for the first time in spring 2026 and was such a huge success, we’re running it back again this fall. Registration is now open!
I partnered with the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences to create this short course specifically for participatory science practitioners. It’s for the valiant leaders running community science, citizen science, volunteer monitoring, and other types of participatory research projects.
If this is you, we hope you’ll join if you are able. Our fall cohort launches September 14.
Most participatory science practitioners aren’t trained communicators — and that’s okay. But the pressure to be active on social media, send regular newsletters, update websites, communicate with participants, and somehow attract media attention can feel overwhelming. What if you could be more effective while doing less?
This course teaches you to:
- Diagnose your project’s actual communication priorities based on your stage and goals
- Define specific, findable target audiences
- Translate scientific results for non-expert audiences
- Make strategic decisions about which channels are worth your time
- Know when and how to get help from partners, media, and institutions
- Create a sustainable communication plan that matches your real capacity
The course follows a flipped classroom model with recorded lectures you complete on your own time, plus weekly live sessions for workshopping and discussion with your peers in the field. You’ll leave with practical templates and a working communication plan for your project.
Course details
Dates: Zoom meetings are Fridays, September 18–October 23 (off Oct 9, Indigenous people’s day weekend), 1-3pm CT.
First hour facilitated discussion, second hour optional open workshopping.
Cost: $175 AAPS members, $325 non-members
Optional Certificate Track: $75 members, $135 non-members (includes portfolio review, detailed feedback from instructor, and certificate of completion)
What students are saying
“This course was useful in my roles as a project leader, science communicator, and student, and Anna taught me about many resources and strategies I never knew existed. One of the most beneficial parts of the experience was the flipped classroom structure that allowed for more time to be spent reflecting together and learning from each other in the workshop sessions. Our time flew by each week, and I valued the opportunity to get inspired by other project leaders and make connections that will carry me forward. I’m excited to approach my project with a new mindset towards language, audience, and storytelling, and I already use the advice and ideas from this course to develop science communication that best suits my needs.”
“This course was useful in helping me take a step back to look at our project strategically during a time of transition. Diving deeper than surface level webinars about communication, this course helped me frame everything specific to my project and actually write it down into a tangible deliverable. This course has shaped my upcoming outreach strategy, given me ideas of how to engage new groups, focus on my goals, and use my resources wisely. The connections and conversation during the live sessions helped me workshop different ideas or present challenges and get live feedback from other professionals in this field. Not only do I have a communications plan as a result of this course, but I also have tangible tasks (such as website design updates) to help me meet the goals of this plan. This course helped me create something that is not just full of hopeful ideas, but can actually be implemented because it is tailored to my capacity, resources, and goals. I would recommend this course to anyone at any phase of their career. It’s important to take the time and consider updating strategies as projects evolve, personnel change, and science advances. Huge thanks to Anna and AAPS for making this course happen!”