Micro-Diploma in Science Communication

"As a PhD candidate, I found the Micro-Diploma in Science Communication extremely valuable. I enjoyed learning and implementing multi-media aspects to scientific communication such as how to take impactful photos, creating graphics, producing podcasts and improving science writing. The course helped me simplify complex scientific concepts and communicate them clearly to diverse audiences. 

These skills were instrumental in my success at the University of Manitoba’s 3MT competition in French, which I won. I went into the nationals feeling confident and well-prepared with the skills I learned throughout the courses. I highly recommend this Micro-Diploma to any student looking to strengthen their communication across multiple platforms."

Camila Chacon
PhD Candidate, Physiology & Pathophysiology
Max Rady College of Medicine

"Micro-Diploma in Science Communication gave me the chance to transform complex ideas into clear and engaging stories. One highlight was hosting an event at a Manitoba museum for children of all ages, where we designed a hands-on activity to explain neuroscience concepts. 

Seeing kids light up with curiosity while we broke down scientific language into something fun and approachable was a turning point. It not only honed my communication skills but also showed me the real impact of making science accessible to everyone."

Rachele Molyneaux (2025)
MSc student, Physiology & Pathophysiology
Max Rady College of Medicine 

"The Micro-Diploma in Science Communication has truly helped me to broaden my view of communication, particularly in terms of conveying technical or complex information.  Reflecting on this, I can identify three key elements that I’ve now incorporated into my regular communication strategies.

By shifting the focus to the audience, I now consciously tailor my messaging to meet their needs and interests.  Even if the communication is one-way, thinking of it as bidirectional helps me to shape my messaging.

By looking at different mechanisms to communicate, such as infographics and photographs for visual communication, media briefs and briefing notes for written communication, and podcasts and videos for oral communication, I have broadened my personal skill set

And by embracing a different array of tools at my disposal, I’m now better equipped to articulate my messages in a more engaging way."

Kiri Shafto (2025)
PhD Candidate, Community Health Sciences
Max Rady College of Medicine 

"During my master’s, I struggled to communicate with patients while collecting samples and explaining my project to them, and that experience made me realize I needed to find the right way to do science communication. 

Taking the Micro-Diploma in Science Communication was truly worth it. I’m grateful for learning new written and audio-visual tools beyond just articles and abstracts. It widened my horizons and even gave me the courage to create a simple, clear comic strip about my PhD project, something I never thought I had in me. The three most memorable parts of this journey were making that comic strip, recording podcasts filled with laughs and warm moments, and visiting the Manitoba Museum, where science felt alive and connected to people. 

Today, I’m proud that I can mold my knowledge to fit my audience, and I would highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to share their research with real people, beyond the limits of articles and abstracts."

Fatemeh Hesampour (2025)
PhD Candidate, Immunology
Max Rady College of Medicine 

"The micro-diploma course in science communication has surpassed all my expectations. Not only did it enrich my understanding of the intricate relationship between science and society, but it also provided me with invaluable practical experiences that I’ll carry with me forever. A standout moment was our hands-on photography and science communication workshop at the museum.

There, I learned how to capture the essence of scientific concepts through the lens of a camera, translating complex ideas into compelling visual stories. The museum setting brought science to life in a way that textbooks simply cannot. This course has not only honed my skills but also ignited a passion for sharing the beauty of science with the world. I am incredibly grateful for this experience and highly recommend it to anyone looking to enhance their science communication skills."

Folayemi Olayinka-Adefemi
PhD, Immunology
Max Rady College of Medicine 

"Being a graduate student in a PhD program, I had a hard time breaking down my research in simple, jargon-free terms to make science accessible to all. Recent times also made me appreciate the need for filling the gap between scientists and general audience. This is where the Micro-Diploma in Science Communication has been an extremely effective and engaging learning experience. 

The micro-diploma course exposed me to various written methodologies of science communication. We also dived into the world of audio and video science communication. The classes are full of useful information given by experts in the field with lots of hands-on experience. From news briefs, op-eds to radios and podcasts, we learnt about portraying science in different mediums. This course has made me so much more confident in my science communication skills and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to make science easy to understand for a broader audience."

Meher Kantroo
PhD student
College of Pharmacy