Science Communication Training Archives

#TheArtofResearch Training Programme

To solve complex problems, knowledge must be shared. We offer tailored science communication and media training for researchers to amplify African knowledge towards impact.

Practical Skills

Hands-on training facilitated at your campus or workplace – tangible skills for real world communications

Industry Experts

Led by award-winning communicators and experts – 20+ year’s experience taking research from the lab to the headlines

Tailored solutions

Flexible course building – select from individual courses or choose a bundle

Creative collaborations

Think beyond traditional media to craft the best communications for your audience

What will work for your people? Our science communication and media courses are modular, so you can choose what fits, and skip what doesn’t.

Science communication strategy

Perfect the art of sharing your science with an impactful research engagement plan

Popular writing

Storify your science by perfecting the art of writing for the public with words that work.

Personal Branding

Discover the art of enhancing your professional researcher profile.

Media training

Harness the power of the media by learning the art of using journalism to amplify your research.

Perfect pitch

Get your work heard by the right people by perfecting the art of a spark talk.

Power presentations

Master the art of making every slide count to tell your story

Youth Engagement

Unpack the art of staying relatable, relevant and real for younger generations.

Workshop outputs – Popular Writing:

Workshop outputs – Perfect Pitch

Get in touch with us with your training requirements
or write to Shabnaaz Gani directly (training coordinator) on shabnaaz@jivemedia.co.za

Testimonials from participants:

“This course has put my research into a better perspective, by making me analyse and understand the target audience better”.

“I liked the structure of the course. The beginning was not overwhelming and the activities were achievable in the time given”.

“The course was held online in a way that made it feel natural. I really like that an output is created in a day, instead of training us and then having us spend weeks on it instead of getting to our other work. And I really appreciated how the time was managed and kept to”.

“Very engaging course that adds value to our work”.

“My science communication journey would not have been possible without the training from Jive Media Africa that taught me that the impact of our work is not only measured by its scientific merit but by its influence on society”.

Jive Media Africa is an award-winning specialist communications agency with a focus on science and research. For the past 20 years, we have amplified ground-breaking African knowledge through innovative content, cutting-edge researcher training and behaviour change programs that connect communities. We’re called ‘Jive’ because we know we can’t change the world if we don’t make science and research fun, powerful, adventurous, and engaging. Jive with us!

April 21, 2020/by Jive Media

Training and Mentorship

Research at Wits – A FameLab Win

The University of Witwatersrand (Wits) hosted FameLab SA for the first time this year. Showing their commitment to science communication training and the competition, three media and communications professionals judged the competition: Journalist, Sibonelo Radebe, the Business & Economy Editor of The Conversation Africa; Elna Shütz, Content Producer and Presenter at Wits Radio Academy and Shirona Patel, the Head of Communications at Wits.

Lungile Khambule impressed them all and moves on to the national semi-finals!

Lungile works in the Department of Chemical Pathology at Wits, researching how to diagnose viruses, such as TB, metabolic diseases and even vitamin deficiencies more effectively, before they become a risk for patients.

Jive will be tweeting live from the semi-finals, follow @JiveMediaAfrica and tweet us with the hashtag #FameLabSA to show your support for Lungile!

Wits FameLab SA Winner, Lungile Khambule presents her science

The judges: Journalist, Sibonelo Radebe, the Business & Economy Editor of The Conversation Africa; Elna Shütz, Content Producer and Presenter at Wits Radio Academy and Shirona Patel, the Head of Communications at Wits.

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

March 23, 2017/by Jive Media

Training and Mentorship

Wits Centres of Excellence Announce 2 Semi-Finalists

The University of the Witwatersrand Centre of Excellence (CoE) programme is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation and aims to “concentrate existing research excellence, capacity and resources, to enable researchers to collaborate across disciplines on long-term projects that are locally relevant and internationally competitive”.

The Centres of Excellence in Palaeosciences, Strong Materials, and Mathematics and Statistical Sciences came together to participate in FameLab SA. Phylis Makurunje and Aviwe Matiwane both won places in the semi-finals!

Phylis is a PhD student at Wits under the CoE in Strong Materials. Her research focusses on aerospace materials, working towards increasing the speed of travel by utilising materials that can withstand such harsh flight conditions.

Aviwe’s research is under the CoE in Paleo Sciences; she is studying through Rhodes University and is based at the Albany Museum. She is researching plants from the Middle Permian, developing a database that can be used worldwide to identify plant species from this period.

Jive will be tweeting live from the semi-finals, follow @JiveMediaAfrica and tweet us with the hashtag #FameLabSA to show your support for Phylis and Aviwe!

Phylis Makurunje and Aviwe Matiwane both won a place in the national FameLab semi-finals!

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

March 23, 2017/by Jive Media

Training and Mentorship

Beaming Semi-Finalists from UFS/CUT Heat

It’s the first time the University of the Free State (UFS) and the Central University of Technology (CUT) took part in FameLab SA. Jive Media Africa trained the participants in communication and media skills the day before the heat, held at Centenary Complex on the UFS campus in Bloemfontein.

Oluwasegun Kuloyo from UFS and Zanele Matsane from CUT won the jointly-hosted heat!

Oluwa is researching a common yeast that lives in the human body, Candida albicans. In healthy people, it is not harmful, but it becomes dangerous in HIV and cancer sufferers. Oluwa’s research aims to find a drug-free method of treating the Candida.

Zanele is studying Supply Chain Management in the South African construction industry. She is focussing on building relationships and collaborative practices that can be implemented on any site and which will contribute to reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

Jive will be tweeting live from the semi-finals, follow @JiveMediaAfrica and tweet us with the hashtag #FameLabSA to show your support for Oluwa and Zanele!

From left: Judge – Ms Oteng Mpete (Media Liaison Officer UFS); Judge – Professor Willie du Preez (Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing CUT); Semi-Finalist – Oluwasegun Kuloyo (UFS); Semi-Finalist – Zanele Matsane (CUT); Judge – Dr Elizabeth Conradie (Manager: Idea Generator CUT)

Jive Media Africa is proud to work with young South African researchers and scientists to improve their communication and media skills.

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

March 23, 2017/by Jive Media

Training and Mentorship

FameLab Heat part of UNISA Research and Innovation Week

The University of South Africa (UNISA) FameLab heat was part of the institution’s Research and Innovation Week. UNISA also opened the competition to contestants from other institutions, and there was a wide variety of research topics to hear about.

Fulufhelo Mudau (above, 2^nd from right) joins the group of FameLab SA semi-finalists – well done!

The South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) plays a significant part in rolling FameLab out in South Africa, and Dr Mthuthuzeli Zamxaka from the agency judged the heat along with Professor Ndikho Mtshiselwa from UNISA.

Jive will be tweeting live from the semi-finals, follow @JiveMediaAfrica and tweet us with the hashtag #FameLabSA to show your support for Fulufhelo!

UNISA FameLab SA contestants with the judges – Dr Mthuthuzeli Zamxaka from SAASTA and Professor Ndikho Mtshiselwa from UNISA (4th & 5th from left)

FameLab SA – an opportunity to learn communication skills to share your STEM research

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

March 23, 2017/by Jive Media

Training and Mentorship

Making Medicinal Plants Move – TUT Chooses Winners

Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) participated in FameLab SA for the first time this year – the contestants were excited to be part of this internationally renowned competition, communicating their science and research for the opportunity to represent TUT at the semi-finals.

Congratulations to Mapula Razwinani who won the TUT heat! She moves on to the masterclasses and the semi-finals along with runner-up, Ntombikazi Jojo, competing for the national FameLab title. Mapula has been researching how medicinal plants can be used to make cartilage in the human body and was excited to share her passion for her science.

Runner-up Ntombikazi Jojo will also be going through to the semi-finals. Ntombikazi is a full-time masters student at TUT from the Department of Chemical, Metallurgy and Materials Engineering.

The TUT participants attended science communication skills and media training with Jive Media Africa, to prepare for the competition.

Jive will be tweeting live from the semi-finals, follow @JiveMediaAfrica and tweet us with the hashtag #FameLabSA to show your support for Mapula and Ntombikazi!

Semi-finalist, Mapula Razwinani, with Dr Rita Raseleka, Director of Research and Innovation at TUT

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

March 23, 2017/by Jive Media

Training and Mentorship

SKA Semi-Finalist Wins a Trip to Mauritius

The South African Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be the biggest scientific instrument ever built. Listening to their scientists really gives one a sense of the magnitude of the endeavour and the excitement of the discoveries waiting to be made.

FameLab, one of the world’s biggest science communication competitions, taking place in over 30 countries – provides the perfect platform for STEM researchers to share their work and develop skills in science communication. The SKA contestants were privileged to have retired NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration Deputy Chief Technologist, Jim Adams, judge the heat.

Vereese van Tonder advances to the semi-finals AND wins a trip to Mauritius to be a part of a SKA Science Communication workshop. The heat included representatives from the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) who demonstrated the power of mathematics for solving real-world problems.

Jive will be tweeting live from semi-finals, follow @JiveMediaAfrica, and tweet us with the hashtag #FameLabSA to show your support for Vereese!

Judging the SKA heat were Busi Maqubela, from the Cape Town Science Centre; Ziyaad Halyday, from SKA South Africa and Jim Adams, retired NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration Chief Technologist

Vereese van Tonder explains her science during the SKA FameLab heat

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

March 22, 2017/by Jive Media

Training and Mentorship

NMMU – Sea Anemones for the Win

The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) hosted an open heat of FameLab SA. Judging the heat were Dr Natasha Beukes from the NMMU Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology, Ms Zandile Mbabela, the NMMU Media Manager and Ms Marilyn Gibbs, the EC Regional Science Fair Director: Eskom Young Scientists.

Biochemist, Wynand van Losenoord, from NMMU won the heat! He is currently researching how toxins from sea anemones can be used to improve insulin secretion in people with diabetes. Wynand is passionate about science and says that FameLab provided the platform to show his love and interest for his work. It also generated lots of ideas about how to interact with the public around his science. First runner-up, Otto Joseph, is studying for a Master’s degree in Chemistry at Rhodes University and also proceeds through to the national semi-finals.

Jive will be tweeting live from semi-finals, follow @JiveMediaAfrica, and tweet us with the hashtag #FameLabSA to show your support for Wynand and Otto!

From left: 1st runner-up, Otto Joseph from Rhodes University; Winner, Wynand van Lesenoord and 2nd runner-up - Doctor Tshabalala from NMMU

From left: 1st runner-up, Otto Joseph from Rhodes University; Winner, Wynand van Losenoord and 2nd runner-up, Doctor Tshabalala from NMMU

NMMU Media Manager, Zandile Mbabela, looks on during science communication training with Jive Media Africa

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

March 22, 2017/by Jive Media

Training and Mentorship

Mintek Semi-Finalist – More Social About Science

Mintek is a leading provider of minerals processing and metallurgical engineering products and services to industries worldwide. Their FameLab SA participants had the perfect platform to put their public speaking and communication skills to the test, in front of experienced Mintek judges.

The judges were: Ashma Singh, a Senior Technical Specialist in Mintek’s Mineral Processing Division; Mokae Bambo, a scientist at Mintek researching Nanoscience and Nanotechnology for water treatment and Portia Mudau, the Principal Engineer of Mintek’s Minerals Processing Division who is passionate about mentorship and education.

Nanji Sheni (above) won the heat and along with runner-up, Tshiamo Legoale, will join the other FameLab SA contestants in the semi-finals!

Nigerian-born and South African grown, Nanji said that FameLab SA was the perfect opportunity to be more social about her science and tap into her passion for public speaking. She is a Chemical Engineer who did her Masters in Minerals Processing and currently works as an Engineer-in-training at Mintek, optimising mining processes.

Jive will be tweeting live from semi-finals, follow @JiveMediaAfrica, and tweet us with the hashtag #FameLabSA to show your support for Nanji and Tshiamo!

The FameLab SA contestants and judges from Mintek

Tshiamo Legoale – Mintek’s FameLab SA Runner Up

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

March 22, 2017/by Jive Media

Training and Mentorship

Retired NASA Technologist to Judge SKA FameLab

Jim Adams (below), retired NASA Deputy Chief Technologist, dropped in to speak to the SKA South Africa FameLab participants while they were spending time at the Cape Town Science Centre practising their science communication skills. With responsibility for such a huge science programme, Jim Adams is uniquely positioned to engage SKA scientists on how to communicate with the public. Jim Adams will be one of the judges at the SKA South Africa FameLab heat.

The SKA will be the biggest scientific instrument ever built, and working with their scientists really gives one a sense of the magnitude of the endeavour and the excitement of the discoveries waiting to be made.

The SKA has also provided extra incentive for the winner of their public heat – they will travel, all expenses paid, to Mauritius to participate in a SKA SA Science Communication Workshop, where they will share their FameLab experience with students, specialists and science communicators. Jive Media Africa worked with the participants to facilitate discussions about science communication ahead of the SKA South Africa heat.

Time is running out to register for FameLab SA! Visit www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

Jim Adams speaks to the SKA FameLab SA participants

‘Colourful Science’ – the Cape Town Science Centre provided a stimulating venue for Jive to train SKA FameLab participants in science communication and media skills.

Pictured with an SKA FameLab participant is the South African MeerKAT radio telescope - a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope.

Pictured with a SKA FameLab participant is the South African MeerKAT radio telescope – a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope.

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

March 7, 2017/by Jive Media

Tag Archive for: Science Communication Training

#TheArtofResearch Training Programme

Research at Wits – A FameLab Win

Wits Centres of Excellence Announce 2 Semi-Finalists

Beaming Semi-Finalists from UFS/CUT Heat

FameLab Heat part of UNISA Research and Innovation Week

Making Medicinal Plants Move – TUT Chooses Winners

SKA Semi-Finalist Wins a Trip to Mauritius

NMMU – Sea Anemones for the Win

Mintek Semi-Finalist – More Social About Science

Retired NASA Technologist to Judge SKA FameLab

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