Next Generation Science Communication Program
Overview
The Next Generation Science Communication Program equips cancer research trainees with the tools to share their work in clear and engaging ways with communities most impacted by cancer. Through hands-on training, community collaboration, and real-world practice, the program bridges the gap between complex science and everyday understanding.
To achieve this, trainees participate in a series of structured components that build their skills:
Learning to craft elevator pitches and infographics
Engaging with community feedback and guidance
Sharing research directly with community audiences
Bridging Researchers with Communities
Our goal is to empower early career researchers to communicate with clarity and purpose—making science more accessible and impactful for communities most affected by cancer.
What We Do:
- Training cancer researchers in plain language and visual communication
- Developing communication skills tailored for community audiences
- Fostering partnerships between trainees and community advocates
- Supporting community presentations of research
Why It Matters:
- Builds trust between researchers and communication
- Ensures research responds to real-world needs
- Enhances community understanding of scientific information
How It Comes Together
The impact of this training is best seen through the experiences of our trainees. By combining training, advocate feedback, and community presentations, the program prepares trainees to put their skills into action.
Spotlight: Early Researcher Experience
Sam Young, UVA Graduate Student
Sam recently completed the Next Generation Science Communication Program. With support from the COE team, he developed an elevator pitch and infographic that translated his research into plain language for the community.
He shared these materials at the 2025 Healthy Streets Fair, where community members asked about cancer screenings, clinical trials, and new therapies. The experience built his confidence and showed the importance of making science accessible beyond academic settings.
Reflecting on the program, Sam shared:
“The biggest lesson I learned from these experiences is that it is really important to ‘meet people where they are at’… engaging with them based on their needs/understanding/perspective, and using my training to come up with solutions to help address those problems.”
~ Sam Young, UVA Grad Student
Learn More
Interested in the Next Generation Science Program? Contact Brenna Robinson at br5me@uvahealth.org.