2024 S2 Reading Effectively and Creatively

Oral and visual communication of research findings In addition to written academic publication, it can be useful to disseminate your findings in person, usually at academic conferences seminars and workshops of varying sizes and scale. Presenting research in this way can elicit vital feedback from specialists in the field, which can shape your own thoughts and conclusions on the subject – often in advance of submitting work to a journal. It also helps to put your research into context and an opportunity to raise awareness within the academic community of the research you are doing, placing it in a broader context, assessing whether it aligns with other research into the subject and/or whether it is particularly relevant to current debates, policies or social trends. Communicating your research at these types of events often comprises an oral presentation with accompanying slides or other materials (e.g. handouts). Many conferences also provide the opportunity to present your research as a poster. These are all valuable chances to improve your skills in oral and visual communication. Presenting research in this way provides a less rigid framework than formal academic writing, yet still assumes an audience who are knowledgeable of the subject matter, and aware of the technical aspects of the research.