A group of TSM-CDT students attended an unusual course together with postgraduate material research scientists from all parts of the country.

On the weekend of 5th-7th of July, a group of TSM-CDT students attended an unusual course at the magnificent Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park together with postgraduate material research scientists from all parts of the country. Equipped with professional recording equipment, the attendees were given the task to create a fifteen minute radio feature that would be recorded at the BBC London studios on the last day of the course.

All just fun and games? No. Although, the students certainly enjoyed the weekend, the communication course is one of the many professional skills training that a TSM-CDT student receives throughout his or her training as a PhD student. After all, the vision of the CDT is to not only create world-class scientists but also to develop a broader skill set. No doubt, that communication with the media is becoming increasingly important for scientists. 

The course would have been hollow without the incredibly talented facilitators. BBC’s very own Gareth Mitchell (presenter for BBC’s ‘click’ program)  introduced the attendees to the basics of radio journalism and went hands-on in helping the students edit and record some radio features. He also organised the course and was there for last-minute tips at the BBC broadcasting house on the Monday. 

The TV expert was Bob Sternberg who introduced his listeners to important media jargon and the “do”s and “don’t”s of TV interviews (for example, never look into the camera!). His practical and approachable nature helped facilitate the recording of a short TV feature which was one of the many exercises that helped prepare the attendees for the “real-thing” on Monday. 

However, what gave this course it’s overall excellency was the choice of the organisers to complement the more “practical” elements of Bob’s and Mitchell’s segments with a solid “theory”-foundation in media communication presented by the third facilitator Claire Ainsworth. She introduced her listeners into the different aspects of “story-telling” a good media piece and helped understand the different players and motives in the media industry. She also went hands-on in helping the researchers with texts about their own research which is often a daunting task for scientists. 

With all this preparation, the anxiety to go “on-air” on the last day of the course had vanished and the course participants were at-ease when the red microphone light in the studio turned on.

The video and audio files produced by the students are linked below: