All workshops are delivered online as half or full-day sessions, and can be run as private sessions for larger groups.
Workshops are offered online via Microsoft Teams or Zoom. For larger groups, these can be run as private sessions online or face to face. All workshops come with a certificate of completion and comprehensive, take-home notes.
- Writing and editing complex content Turn complex information into clear communication — for science, health, medicine, the environment, data or policy.
- Introduction to making accessible documents Create and style text, images and tables so they're accessible for everyone.
- Introduction to technical editing Meet the extra demands of preparing technical and scientific material — tables, figures, maths and more.
- Introduction to data visualisation Present data visually with influence and integrity — the right graph, table or map for your data story.
- Creating effective infographics Create infographics that help audiences grasp key messages and bring complex content to life.
- Data literacy — understanding data Select, understand and present data in reports, presentations, recommendations and evidence-based policy.
Can't find a date that works for you, or want more information? Email us and we'll get back to you.
Writing and editing complex content
Duration: Full day face to face, or 2 half-days online
Learn how to turn complex information into clear communication. This workshop can help if you're writing about science, health, medicine, the environment, data or policy.
Workshop topics
- Common problems
Examples of typical complex writing from a variety of sources - Where to start
Questions to ask when first working on a document - Writing clearly and succinctly
Avoiding pitfalls such as long sentences, overuse of jargon and passive voice - Improving documents through editing
The stages of editing, from substantive editing through to proofreading - 'Bare bones approach'
Using a simple checklist to determine what level of editing a document requires
Introduction to making accessible documents
Duration: Half a day
Learn how to create and style text, images and tables to make them accessible for everyone.
Workshop topics
- Why accessibility matters
What accessibility means and how it benefits everyone - Choosing accessible language
How to write to suit your audiences - Styling for consistency and usability
Using templates and styles to make your work accessible - Making accessible tables
Creating and styling tables so they can be read by a screen reader - Visuals
Using alt text to make visuals accessible
Introduction to technical editing
Duration: Half a day
Learn about the extra demands inherent in preparing technical and scientific material. Most writing advice focuses on words — but often we're presenting diagrams, tables, plots of data, references and mathematics, and the text must describe a nuanced chain of reasoning accurately and unambiguously. This is even more important now that many first drafts are written with the help of AI.
Workshop topics
- Surveying the field
The need for technical editing skills; what we're trying to achieve and how - Editing tables
Shaping tables to best effect; presenting the data correctly; getting the details right - Reviewing visuals
Recognising good and poor figures; reviewing figures and diagrams - Presenting mathematics and statistics
Knowing the conventions and how to implement them - Comparing, concluding and confusing
Using precise language; identifying ambiguity; writing clearly and directly - Finding the best advice
Finding reliable subject-specific advice
Introduction to data visualisation
Duration: Full day face to face, or 2 half-days online
Learn how to present data visually with influence and integrity. Match your type of data to the correct graph, table or map, and design these visuals to give your 'data story' maximum effect.
Workshop topics
- Defining audience and message
Be clear about who you're talking to and what you want to say - Understanding the data
Present data in a way that suits its type and avoids misrepresenting it - Choosing the visual
Match the visual to the message - Avoiding common errors
Practical advice - Designing the visuals, including
- colour
- accessibility
- font choices
Creating effective infographics
Duration: Full day face to face, or 2 half-days online
Learn how to create infographics that help audiences understand key messages or processes, and bring your complex content to life.
Workshop topics
- Types of infographics
Understanding the different types (data, process and message) and their uses - When to use an infographic
Making sure the effort has the highest impact - Effective infographics
How to avoid infographic pitfalls - Identifying the story
Creating a clear story and messaging - Visual structure and design
Using compelling images to support and explain the story - Putting it all together and production
Working with a designer to create and produce the final design
Data literacy — understanding data
Duration: Full day face to face, or 2 half-days online
Learn how to select, understand and present data in reports, presentations, recommendations and evidence-based policy.
Workshop topics
- Defining data
- What do we mean by data?
- What types of data might we encounter, and where do we find it?
- Key statistics
- Measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and when to use them
- Percentages, rates, ratios, probabilities
- Significance, error, correlation and causation
- Describing your data
- Language of evidence, risk and causation
- Biased language
- Writing recommendations
- Accessible and open data
- Open and closed data
- Big data and data licensing