“Tailored Writing” Training During National Climate Week 2024
During National Climate Week (November 11–17, 2024), TU Delft | Campus The Hague, in collaboration with the Climate Helpdesk, organised an advanced Tailored Writing training as a follow-up to its annual basic media training. This session focused on enhancing the communication and writing skills of young researchers in the fields of climate and energy. The broader aim was to make their scientific insights more accessible to the general public and translate them more effectively for policymakers to support decision-making and implementation. Following the training, a lunchtime lecture was hosted by the Climate Safety & Security centre, offering guidance on working with journalists.
Why an In-depth Training?
The Tailored Writing training, led by Marco Visscher, author and freelance journalist, provided participants with personal guidance to work towards their individual communication goals. Participants submitted a writing assignment in advance, which was reviewed during the session, and received specific feedback on how to better align their scientific writing with a broader audience.
“I think the workshop on opinion articles was very useful, particularly because one of the participants had submitted an opinion piece beforehand. When participants read each other’s work in advance, it becomes much easier to practically identify what could be improved in the text.
However, I don’t really see the workshop on opinion articles as a follow-up to the general presentation on working with journalists, I see it as something ese entirely. With an opinion article, you have full control over your message without the involvement of a journalist who might ask unexpected questions. Both approaches are valuable, but they require very different strategies,” emphasised Marco Visscher.
Furthermore, Marco Visscher delivered an inspiring lunch lecture to researchers from the Climate Safety & Security centre and the Climate Action Programme. He shared practical tips on dealing with journalists, covering the do’s and don’ts of science communication and explaining how researchers can best prepare for interviews and press inquiries.
Climate Week as a Catalyst
The training aligns perfectly with National Climate Week, which emphasises awareness and action. By equipping young researchers with media and communication skills, Campus The Hague helps to make their climate research more visible and accessible to both the general public and policymakers. This not only increases societal impact but also supports policy-making with scientific solutions.
