SciComm Foundations
Master the Art of Science Communication with RCIScience’s SciComm Foundations
A comprehensive online course for Science Communication best practices
Mark Henick
“I enjoyed how intentionally designed the content was, how it was self directed, and how it hit all of the right notes. There was nothing extraneous in there. It was very well focused.”
OUR STORY
Whether you're a researcher, graduate student, or science enthusiast, knowing how to communicate science is just as important as doing it. But formal training in science communication is often fragmented, inaccessible, or concentrated in major cities—leaving many aspiring science communicators without clear guidance.
That’s why we created SciComm Foundations—a comprehensive, online learning experience developed by Canada’s top science communication experts.
We saw a gap. Too many early-career researchers, science students and communications professionals were eager to share their work with the world but lacked structured training. Degrees and diplomas are time-intensive and expensive. Workshops are rare and often exclusive. SciComm Foundations fills that gap—providing accessible, high-quality training no matter where you're located or what your background is.
Originally developed as a pilot project with the University of Waterloo, thanks to support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and shaped by Canada’s leading voices in science communication, the course has since grown into a trusted learning experience that’s already transformed how participants communicate science.
Why RCIScience?
RCIScience (the Royal Canadian Institute for Science) is one of Canada’s oldest public science organizations, dedicated to sparking curiosity and making science accessible to everyone. With over 175 years of leadership in public science engagement, we bring unmatched credibility, community, and expertise to the field of science communication.
Break through the noise.
Make your science heard.
Break through the noise.
Break through the noise.
Make your science heard.
Break through the noise.
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“It has a good foundation for storytelling techniques, accessibility and genres, depending on how you want to structure your content.”
Andreea Bosorogan
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“Very accommodating to those with busy schedules and an amazing and supportive team to be a part of!”
Alexa Fitzpatrick
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"The highlight of the program for me was having the modules as a backup resource that I can [refer to and] adjust my ways of communicating with not just the general public, but generally anyone that I communicate with."
Alan Bui
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"I have come back to it regularly… because there was a real depth of knowledge there, that I really became quite engaged with.”
Mark Henick
Empowering the next generation of scientists & communicators.
What you get
A foundational digital learning course rooted in science communication, SciComm Foundations equips learners with essential tools, strategies, and best practices to become confident, clear, and compelling science communicators.
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Modules cover a wide range of topics and issues, including:
SciComm 101
storytelling
accessible communications
evaluation techniques
social media
inclusion and respect;
misinformation;
data visualization;
and more!
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Modules developed by Canada’s leading science communication experts through multi-institutional collaboration—including the University of Waterloo and Laurentian University.
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Flexible, self-paced learning to fit your schedule. Access to video training modules for remote learning.
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The fundamentals of science communication with actionable learning objectives.
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An understanding of ethical considerations and ethical thinking in science communication.
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Professional science communication training without committing time and resources to higher education diplomas.
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Hone your science communication skills for various audiences including public, corporate, and government.
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Modules include follow-up resources and reading for those who want to dive deeper.
START TODAY
Get anytime access to our growing collection of classes, workshops, and exclusive content designed to give you a broad foundation in science communication and science engagement.
Learn at your pace.
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Learn from the best.
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Learn at your pace. 🟆 Learn from the best. 🟆
Impact that speaks for itself
Past participants have gone on to:
Deliver more engaging presentations and public talks;
Create science content for media;
Win outreach and communication grants;
Join national and international networks of science communicators
Whether you’re looking to boost your career, reach wider audiences, or inspire public trust in science, SciComm Foundations is your first step.
FAQs
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The course is perfect for anyone who is interested in growing their science communication skills for a public audience but not in a position to commit to a full higher education diploma. Graduate students have expressed the most interest to date, but the program is certainly accessible to undergraduate students, practicing scientists and professionals who are keen to engage the public with science. Remote learning modules allow for distance learning at your own pace - ideal for anyone balancing a busy schedule.
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Some of the learning objectives for this certificate include the ability to:
Understand the fundamentals of science communication as a profession;
Learn about current research in fields studying science communication;
Recognize the role of different audiences (scientists, activists, citizen scientists and various public audiences) in shaping science communication practices;
Examine how science communication varies across rhetorical situations, including local and global cultural contexts;
Identify and examine ethical considerations and practice ethical thinking in science communication; and,
Gain confidence in your capacity to communicate science effectively.
Each module contains specific learning objectives for that content. Reviewing them will help you understand the key messages in the modules.
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The course is completed entirely online at your own pace (please note enrollment gives access to course materials for 12 months).
Enroll in SciComm Foundations today and start building the skills you need to
make science matter.
Meet Your Instructors
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Dr. Chantal Barriault
Director of the Science Communication Graduate Program, Laurentian University
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Tommy Mayberry
Director of the Centre for Teaching Excellence and Innovation, Yorkville University
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Ki-Youn Kim
Science Communication Specialist
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Dr. B. Mehlenbacher
Professor, University of Waterlo
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Megan Selinger
Associate Professor, University of Waterloo
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Dr. Sarah Ruffell
Associate Professor, University of Waterloo
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Michelle Reid
Lecturer, Laurentian University
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George Lamont
Associate Professor, University of Waterloo
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Abigail Morris
Science Communicator, Curriculum Development Manager
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Dr. A. Mehlenbacher
Canadian Research Chair in Science, Health, and Technology Communication, University of Waterloo
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Natasha Vitkin
Analytics Lead, Social Medicine, University Health Network
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Andrea Jonahs
Associate Professor, University of Waterloo
Looking for more?
Become a Member.
Gain access to our growing collection of resources, workshops, networking events and more.
Connect. Learn. Grow.