GeoIntern 2023 is now CLOSED for applications

30th June – 28th July 2023

All programmes include

Science Communication

Our Science Communication programme is run in association with Andy Ridgeway, a senior lecturer from UWE responsible for the university’s MSc in Science Communication and Hannah Little, lecturer in Communication and Media at the University of Liverpool.

The science communication training teaches the latest practical skills in science communication including science writing, video production as well as communicating science through social media. It is taught in an interactive way that will enable you to develop confidence and skills when communicating. Students will have the opportunity to undertake science writing and develop a short video and receive feedback on their work.

The training will appeal to those considering a career communicating about science and the environment as well as those for whom communication may be part of their role, such as researchers.

There will also be guided sessions of practical work overseen by our associated local experts in Tenerife.

The key skills students will learn are:

• How to write in a lively, engaging way about science for articles in the media and blogs.
• Producing a short video about your research and the research of others.
• Essential skills in presenting in front of a camera and in front of a live audience.
• How to use social media effectively to communicate about science/the environment.
• Adapting your communication to different audiences.
• How to do an engaging interview for written articles, podcasts and videos.
• Sound and video editing for brilliant audio (podcast) and video clips.
• Scripting podcasts and vodcasts.
• The art of telling a good story about science and the environment.
• Using your knowledge of science and the environment to help bring about change.

Students will receive feedback on longer pieces of written work and videos and start developing their portfolio.

There will also be a project to complete, with winning submissions to be showcased and promoted on our social media channels.

Andy will deliver the training in Week 1 of our GeoIntern programme. He is an award-winning journalist who spent nearly 20 years in the profession before becoming an academic. After starting his career working on local newspapers, he moved into science journalism and became Deputy Editor of BBC Focus, the BBC’s science magazine. During his time at Focus, he was named Editorial Person of the Year in the BBC Magazines Awards for Excellence. Since becoming a lecturer, Andy has continued to write for BBC Focus, New Scientist and The Economist, among other publications. Andy is a researcher on the European Commission-funded research project, RETHINK, which is exploring the challenges and opportunities presented by online science communication.

Hannah will be in Tenerife for Week 2 of the programme. Her research interests are digital communication, linguistic and cultural evolution, experimental methods and data analysis. Before going into academia, Hannah worked in science communication professionally. She worked full time co-ordinating the STEM Ambassador programme and the Nuffield Research Placements in the North East of England. Since then, she has facilitated science communication training with many organisations including the British Council, the UK Environment Agency and “I’m a scientist, get me out of here!”

From Week 3 GeoIntern will split into programme A, B, C or D as outlined below:

At the conclusion of GeoIntern, we will hold a graduation at our HQ. Students will present a report of their work and there will be a formal presentation of graduation Certificates attesting to the skills you have learnt (subject to students submitting timely original pieces of work as set throughout the course).

Summer Programme cost

The GeoIntern programme costs £2450 for four weeks.

Bookable with a £950 deposit and the balance falls due 8 weeks before arrival.

You will be learning highly transferable skills in you time with us and you will participate in live research projects.

The scientists you will be training with for GeoIntern programmes are industry-recognised experts, and you will be learning directly from them. You will have a minimum of 180 direct contact hours with a variety of them from a range of backgrounds over four weeks.

You will receive feedback and guidance about your training and work in the field. This is an opportunity for you to develop a range of skills that are directly transferable to the workplace and will strengthen your CV.

You will also receive intensive science communication training to ensure you can present yourself and your work effectively in future (on and off camera) from professional lecturers.

We are passionate believers in the need to train young scientists to communicate well to both scientific and non-scientific audiences. This training will add to your highly transferable skills for your future career, help with your general confidence when speaking about your work and with future job applications, funding applications or gaining support for your research.

The fee covers the teaching costs and expenses for our experts as well as your accommodation, half board catering Monday to Friday (breakfast and supper), transfer costs (including return flights or ferry journeys to other islands for programmes in La Palma; airport/port transfers, daily transfer to your changing work environment) and liability cover. We are members of ABTA, the UK Travel Association, so your booking, if successful, is fully protected.

The fee does NOT cover your flights to/from Tenerife, which are your responsibility to book and pay for, or weekend catering. ALL programmes begin and end in Tenerife and we will transfer you to other islands from here if required by your programme.

We organise any required permits to enable you to participate in our fieldwork as well as any medical certificates you may need to be able to work in certain industrial installations where applicable. We endeavour to ensure you always have access to WIFI and a shared kitchen.

Your fee also covers a weekly excursion programme, to ensure you learn about the particular nature of the environment you are working in from local experts. There will be one full day excursion per week (including for those working in La Palma), and all associated costs (including extra insurance where required, or government permits) are included in your fee. Previous excursions have included an exclusive night-time descent into a majestic little-known lava tube with a local caving club professional and a biologist to describe the unique environment and fauna endemic to that cave; an ascent up to Teide crater; a trek down a dyke-rich gorge led by a local volcanologist followed by a boat ride out to sea for lunch and to see the resident dolphin population.

Part of your fee covers GeoTenerife running costs in the UK and Tenerife (to ensure a successful programme we have a permanent, fully-owned subsidiary in Tenerife), our ABTA membership (the UK travel trade association for tour operators and travel agents which protects your payment so your booking is secure) and comprehensive work and liability insurance cover.

A further percentage of your fee supports our Scholarship programme to enable wider access to GeoIntern, which is fully funded by the Summer Programme.

Some of our participants each year are part or fully-funded by their home university to participate in our programme, so it is worth asking your tutor if funds are available for this purpose.

On successful graduation, we are here to advise, promote, support and act as referees for you long after your month with us in the Canary Islands ends.

Want to apply?

Once you have read through the programmes on offer, you can apply using ONE of the options below. Please note our scholarships are only intended to open access to students who otherwise would not be able to apply. Our programmes are oversubscribed so do take care over your application.

APPLY HERE for the Summer Programme

APPLY HERE for a scholarship