Science Communication Course

Successful conservation is reliant on a solid scientific understanding but also being able to communicate that knowledge with a broad range of people. Whether it is selling your idea to potential funders, talking to school children in nearby communities or sharing ideas with policy makers you need to tailor your communication style. How can we, as conservation practitioners, think more about our audiences? How can we use storytelling as a tool to help us bring our projects and knowledge to society? In this five-day course, international experts will help participants address these questions using a mix of theoretical and practical activities to help build the skills you need to effectively communicate your work to a range of audiences.

Participants who complete this course will have the opportunity to be selected to team up with participants from the African School of Storytelling for a second course in October. This exciting interdisciplinary course will bring together conservation practitioners, scientists, and filmmaking students to create short films on current conservation projects, with the aim of producing African conservation stories, developed and told by African voices.

Benefits and expectations

The program will sponsor the cost of the course, travel and on-site accommodation. Contributions for child care costs are possible. Participants are expected to arrive on site on 9 July, attend the complete range of program dates (10-14 July), and to depart site on 15 July. Up to 10 participants will be selected. The program will be taught in a combination of primarily in English.

Eligibility requirements

This application is open to people at different career stages working in the conservation field that have a keen interest in science communication.

Applicants must:

1. Be a Tanzanian national.
2. Have completed a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management, Ecology, Conservation or any other closely related field of study.
3. Be passionate about conservation and show a genuine interest in making science accessible to the general public

How to apply

Applicants must submit the following materials in a single pdf document via email to RISE@grumetifund.org  referencing ‘SciComm Course Application’ in the subject line.

1. Completed application document (attached below)
2. A scanned copy of a bachelor’s degree (BSc) certificate.
3. One letter of reference from a teacher, employer, or mentor that can speak to your career aspirations and interests.
4. Copy of a National Identification Card or relevant ID
5. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Reference writers – please clarify your relationship with the applicant in your submission. Please email your signed recommendations to RISE@grumetifund.org  and reference the name of the relevant applicant in the subject line.

Applications are due by 15 April 2023. Selected participants will be contacted by 8 May 2023.

For questions or inquiries, contact RISE@grumetifund.org .