UBC Microplastics Cluster Knowledge Exchange Series

Want to connect with new audiences, build partnerships, and drive research impact? The University of British Columbia Microplastics Cluster is pleased to offer a three-part series facilitated by Hikma Strategies (https://www.hikmastrategies.com/). Each of the workshops below will help participants build core competencies in knowledge exchange through presentations, group activities, and individual exercises.

Workshop Dates:

• Part 1: Thursday, March 3rd, 2022 from 11am-12pm Pacific
• Part 2: Thursday, March 10th, 2022 from 11am-12pm Pacific
• Part 3: Thursday, March 17th, 2022 from 11am-12pm Pacific

This virtual series is open to UBC faculty, staff and students interested in microplastics research and related topics. Participation is free, but space is limited, and registration is required.

To register, click here. (Registration closed)

Part 1: Communicate with Non-Specialists

Research experts often find it challenging to engage non-specialist audiences in ways that preserve the rigor and credibility of their work. This workshop will offer a framework and actionable strategies to write research narratives that inform and engage non-specialist audiences. It will focus specifically on how to develop a brief, effective research summary tailored for a target audience beyond your field who may or may not have a research background. We will explore how to create common ground, prioritize key points, preserve credibility, and invite curiosity. The principles discussed in this workshop can be applied to a wide range of genres such as op-eds, educational case studies, and summaries for funding proposals. Participants may wish to come with a research topic in mind and to workshop their topic in a notebook during the webinar.

Part 2: Ask Generative Questions

To translate knowledge effectively, it is critical that you first understand where your partners, collaborators, and actors are coming from. This workshop will provide a framework and actionable strategies to identify your own knowledge gaps and tap into areas of expertise. We will discuss common areas where researchers get stalled in partnership development and show how to leverage curiosity and empathy to build common ground.

Part 3: Map the Context for Your Research

If you are working on an urgent need, challenge or opportunity, it’s likely that you are not alone. We are better prepared to solve complex challenges when we know who to collaborate with, and how to create the best conditions for shared success. This workshop will provide frameworks and actionable strategies to think more deeply about the people and processes that make change possible in specific contexts. Participants will leverage context mapping to brainstorm potential partners and identify promising opportunities for collaboration.  

About the Facilitator

Erica Machulak, PhD, is the Founder of Hikma Strategies, an organization that helps people with unique expertise attract funding, build partnerships, and communicate complex ideas to new audiences. Through editorial consulting, writing, instructional design, and facilitation, she works with experts across fields to effect change through knowledge translation. Her work has been published by Inside Higher Ed, Intellect Ltd, the Yearbook of Langland Studies, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. She holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania (BA), the University of Oxford (MSt.), and the University of Notre Dame (PhD).

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this series for?

This series is open to members of the University of British Columbia research community (faculty, staff, students and postdocs) interested in translating research related to microplastics. Whether you have decades of experience building research partnerships or are just getting started, this series will help you reframe and jump start your knowledge translation plans.

What will I learn?

The topics covered will focus on building internal capacity among research community members so that participants feel prepared to communicate with new audiences and connect with partners. Throughout the three topics in this series, we will focus on building participants’ knowledge and confidence through the articulation of tangible, context-specific next steps.

What if I can’t attend all three events?

The three workshops in this series are intended to build on each other. To get the most out of the experience, we recommend that you attend all three. That said, participants who attend only one or two of the workshops will develop skills and receive actionable advice for their next steps in knowledge translation. Please note that these workshops will not be recorded.

How do I attend these events?

Registered participants will receive a Zoom link shortly before each event in the series. If you don’t see a link in your inbox, please check your spam folder for missed messages.