New guidance on research communications
DFID is a recognised leader among donors in its efforts to support and develop better research communications. A recent report ‘Learning Lessons on Research Uptake and Use: Donor review on research communication’ looked across a range of donors for examples of good practice and emerging lessons. Its aim was to see what these donors’ priorities and strategies had in common, so that we could begin to harmonise and make the most of the tactics and techniques that we’ve learned do work. While examples of good practice and innovative initiatives were found, there was still an overwhelming lack of strategic approaches

CGIAR Science Communications Awards 2009
Do you know of an outstanding bit of science communication by a CGIAR project or partner? If so, why don’t you give them a pat on the back? Nominations for their annual award are due 30 November, 2009. CGIAR’s Award for Outstanding Communications is designed to highlight the importance of communicating the results of scientific research. It will be awarded to a communications campaign that has effectively and accurately communicated an agriculture science initiative to a target audience. Communications professionals, scientists, researchers, extension workers or others working in this area are eligible

Capturing and using effective information exchange patterns
Few logframes effectively capture all – or even many – of the ways in which researchers are exchanging information. The absence of this element results in high strategic losses to research projects. Without planning to ensure that all members of the project are clear about when and how they are contributing to different parts of the wider communications strategy, then many – particularly younger and less experienced researchers – will not be able to make the most of opportunities. Equally disappointing is that during evaluations research projects will not be getting credit for much of the good communications work that they do, because it is not captured in the planning

How – and how well – do the UK media report climate change?
If you are in the UK you will be aware of much recent controversy about the reporting of climate change. When the science is firmly behind the conclusion that human activity is affecting our climate, how should the media deal with demands to ‘present both sides of the story’.  An event at the Science Museum’s Dana Centre on 24 November in London will discuss this issue, and participants will include Antonia Senior, Editor of Eureka, The Times, Tim Gallagher, Executive Producer, Sky News, Martin Wright, Editor in Chief, Green Futures, Forum for the Future Ben Jackson, Environment Editor, The Sun, and James Randerson, Editor of

Open Access – What can DFID do?
There was a great deal of interest in the recent ‘Open Access Week’. DFID-funded researchers are asking themselves both what is expected of them and what they could do. Towards a DFID Research Policy on Open Access, a recent report by Peter Ballantyne for DFID, scopes how DFID Research could take forward an open access policy that will lead to greater public access to the research outputs it finances. It is not a policy for DFID; it provides some building blocks for such a policy. The report provides a snapshot of the current situation across a wide range of projects. It is based on