Science communication from a course-based undergraduate research experience.

Area of Science:

• Science Education
• Undergraduate Research
• Scientific Communication

Background:

• Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) offer authentic research opportunities to many students.
• CUREs frequently conclude with poster presentations, but communication skill development is often overlooked.
• Effective communication is crucial for disseminating research findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a research seminar focused on developing communication and interpersonal skills for scientific poster presentations.
• To equip students with the necessary tools and confidence for effective research communication.
• To evaluate the impact of the seminar on student presentation success.

Main Methods:

• A CURE-associated research seminar was developed and implemented.
• The seminar curriculum focused on producing and presenting conference posters.
• Student participation and presentation outcomes were tracked over two course offerings.

Main Results:

• Eighteen students participated in the seminar across two offerings.
• Students delivered 19 conference presentations.
• Five of these presentations received awards, indicating successful skill development.

Conclusions:

• The seminar effectively enhanced students' ability to communicate their research findings.
• Integrating communication skills training into CUREs is beneficial for student success.
• This approach can increase the visibility and impact of undergraduate research.