ALCE Doctoral Candidate Develops Science Communication Training to Help Researchers Share Impacts
When it comes to translating research into real-world understanding, one Virginia Tech doctoral candidate is working to make that process more accessible — and more effective.
With support from a Research!America microgrant, Ph.D. candidate Jessica Spence in the Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education has developed a self-paced, online training module designed to help Extension agents, scientists, and researchers communicate the impact of their work more clearly, especially on social media platforms.
The module, built with a focus on agriculture and related sciences, teaches participants how to write compelling impact statements and repurpose those messages for diverse public audiences. From guided worksheets to interactive learning tools and digital credentialing, the course combines practical training with strategic communication skills.
“This project is about helping researchers connect with the people their work is meant to serve,” said Spence. “We’re not just generating knowledge, we’re generating impact, and that needs to be communicated effectively.”
Funded through a competitive national program, the Research!America Civic Engagement Microgrant provides $5,000 in flexible funding to early-career researchers and science communicators to implement innovative outreach projects. The program encourages recipients to build bridges between science and the public — a goal that closely aligns with Virginia Tech’s land-grant mission.
Spence’s two-part training module includes impact statement writing, where participants learn how to break down their research into understandable outcomes, identify supporting evidence, and highlight broader societal relevance, and social media for science communication, where participants are walked through building a professional online presence, identifying and tailoring messages for different audience types, and creating platform-specific posts that are both engaging and credible.
The course also features interactive elements like flashcards, quizzes, matching activities, while also offering downloadable worksheets. Participants who complete both a draft impact statement and a social media strategy plan receive a digital badge certifying their completion of the training.
“Communication is a core skill for scientists, not just an optional one,” said Spence. “This module is about giving people the tools they need to do that well.”
With a strong emphasis on usability and transferability, Jessica Spence designed the module to be adaptable for other institutions and programs.
The broader goals of the project include:
Equipping professionals with communication skills that make research understandable and relatable
Strengthening public trust and understanding of science
Encouraging measurable, consistent science outreach
Providing a replicable training model for universities, Extension programs, and beyond
As a land-grant institution, Virginia Tech is committed to serving communities through research, Extension, and engagement. Projects like this, happening in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, reflect that mission by helping researchers share the tangible benefits of their work with the audiences who matter most.
For those with interest in taking the training model, please utilize the following link: https://rise.articulate.com/share/3q7-Hx5VPbNRyhkd2yhggY12PZB6ksY9#/.
By Olivia Moyer