Pre-Conference Event: Plain Language in Science Communication
Presented by Michelle Boulton of PLAIN Canada CLAIR
Science writing is supposed to be dense, written in passive voice, and filled with jargon. Isn’t it?
Jargon can be a convenient shorthand when you’re communicating with others who also speak that language. However, it doesn’t work well when you’re trying to communicate with a non-scientific audience. For that matter, even other scientists might not understand you if they’re not from the same discipline.
In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore plain language and how to use it to make your science and technical communication easier to understand. Some of the questions we’ll tackle together include:
- Why should we use plain language in science and technical communication?
- Who benefits from plain language?
- What are some of the barriers to using plain language in science?
- How can we overcome those barriers?
By the end of the workshop, you will have a good understanding of what plain language is and the benefits of using it to make your science communication more accessible and engaging. You’ll practice using plain language techniques to make your writing more effective and engaging and apply plain language design principles to improve readability.
Price: $125
If cost is prohibitive, we can provide a limited number of tickets at a reduced rate. If you wished to be considered for the sponsored ticket price, please email office@sciencewriters.ca with an answer to the question: "how will taking this workshop impact your professional development?"
Speaker Bio
Michelle Boulton is the managing director of 3c Publications. She began her career as a journalist, worked in marketing and print production, and eventually launched her own company. 3c Publications is a collaborative team of communication professionals (writers, editors, translators, and designers) with diverse skills and experience in a wide range of industries.
They use evidence-based clear communication (or plain language) principles to help clients translate complex information into content that is clear and easy for everyone to understand and use. They work with a broad range of clients, including Ag-West Bio, Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, Canadian Radiation Protection Association, NexGen Energy, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO).
Michelle is a member of SWCC, a past president of Editors Canada, and the current head of Plain Canada Clair.
