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ANNOUNCING SCOTT 3.0
Science Communication Teacher Training program (SCOTT)

What we are doing goes far beyond just teaching scientists essential skills as communicators and teachers. The tools of communication can help scientists become better thinkers and do better research, which adds value to their careers and the institute as a whole.

SCOTT is a new program based at the Max Delbrück Center in Berlin, aimed primarily at advanced career stage scientists with excellent (near native) English and solid writing and presentation skills. The goals are to:

• help participants develop additional professional qualifications as science communication trainers, teachers, writers, editors, etc., by giving them the theoretical background and skills to be multipliers; 
• serve as a unique model program to encourage other organizations to institutionalize in-house, excellent science communication training;
• develop highly creative new projects in science communication and teaching: books, courses, teaching materials, games, etc.

SCOTT runs for 16 months. SCOTT 1.0 finished in summer 2023; SCOTT 2.0 will finish in the coming summer. There will be two months overlap between the last group and the next one.

We have accomplished some great things. We made a “board game” about molecular biology, and are developing popular science materiasl  and other projects on the theme of model organisms. Both projects received funding from the Stiftung Charité and are under development with book and game publishers. 

We have developed new courses on “Coping with Talk Anxiety” and “How to Read a Paper,” have helped prepare graduate schools and the institute for important reviews, applications to create programs and a new institute, and are working on several other projects. SCOTT members participated in many public science events, developed projects for school classes, etc. We are preparing new applications for the Stiftung’s latest call and will seek funding from additional external sources.

I am now accepting applicants for the third “class,” which will start in April 2024 and run until June 2025.

Who are we looking for?

SCOTT 3.0 will be open to 20 scientist/trainees. Priority will be given to postdocs and advanced career stage scientists at the MDC, although we will consider PhD students and exceptional candidates with very diverse qualifications from other institutes. We also welcome applicants from other fields – other natural sciences, data science, informatics, journalism, teachers, etc. The first group included an artist who has worked on projects bridging art and science. The second group includes a high school teacher.

What does the program entail?

Participants will need to make a firm commitment to the entire program and be prepared to attend the seminars, which meet for one full day per month in Berlin. They should count on spending at least one additional day per month working on SCOTT projects. 

Activities will include seminars, observations of courses, outside assignments, and teaching. The seminar days will include very interesting invited speakers and guests. We will also start collaborations with journalists and teachers. The program is divided into 3 phases:

• Seminars, observation, and discussions to provide a solid theoretical introduction to practices and problems in scientific communication, didactics and learning styles. The group will hone their own science communication skills, observe ongoing courses in a range of skill areas, discuss anddeconstruct the teaching, and creatively brainstorm to improve the theory and methodology. We will work on lesson plans together and feed new ideas into the next cycle of courses. 
• In the second phase, participants will co-teach modules of ongoing courses themselves, with supervision, observation by colleagues and sessions for constructive feedback afterwards.
• In the third phase participants will complete a communication/teaching project they have designed and begin teaching independently, with support from the instructor and the group. We will present the program to the MDC and other institutes through lectures, demonstrations and group workshops, to inform and engage the community. “Graduates” will help recruit and work with the next class of trainers, export the model to their future institutes, and become the basis of a network that will continue to work together over the long term.

SCOTT will offer special types of support to the participants’ home labs, such as customized workshops and help with projects such as papers, theses, and presentations.

All seminar dates for 2024 will be set soon.

Here are the dates so far: March 1, April 5, May 10, June 7.

What do we hope to achieve?

High-quality communication training can add value to an institute by improving not only the skills of its scientists but also their research. This concept is based on an established theoretical background and teaching methodology that is still being refined, improved, and expanded. As a group we will collect experience, improve the program, develop original teaching methods and materials and produce a handbook for future trainers.  We will enhance current training structures at the MDC and on campus by offering more support to students and scientists, developing content for the Long Night of Sciences, the Gläsernes Labor and other venues, and producing games, teaching materials for schools, etc.

The program will be extremely transparent. Group leaders, scientists and other staff at the MDC are welcome as observers or participants at any time. In return, we will support their work by offering customized workshops and helping develop communication and education modules for grants or institutional projects. Contact the program if you are interested.

We will offer lectures and demonstration courses to other institutes and organizations within the Helmholtz Association and beyond, to promote the wider institutionalization of this model of training.

If you are interested or have questions, please contact Russ Hodge directly, at hodge@mdc-berlin.de. 

As a part of registration, we will set up an individual appointment to discuss details of the program and your individual interests and needs.