As part of the 60th Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC), a three-day writing workshop concluded today, July 15, 2024, at Camp Kigali.
This workshop, which began on July 13, aimed to equip scientific researchers and young journalists with the skills to write compelling stories about their research findings for a general audience.
Perpetua Ng’honge Mdongo, a research fellow at Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania, attended the workshop and found it invaluable. “
As a researcher, I often get caught up in the technical details of my work,” she said. “The workshop helped me focus on the story behind my research and how to convey it in a way that would engage readers.”
Juliette Portala, one of the trainers, emphasized the importance of storytelling in science communication.
“Storytelling is a powerful way to connect with people on an emotional level and make complex scientific concepts more relatable,” she said. “By sharing their stories, researchers can inspire others to take action on pressing conservation issues.”
The workshop covered topics such as writing for different audiences, structuring a compelling story, scientific publications, and using vivid language. Participants also had the opportunity to share their work-in-progress with peers and receive feedback.
The writing workshop was highly praised by participants, who appreciated the opportunity to develop their writing skills and learn how to communicate their research more effectively.