Week 2.8: Collaborating and Communicating#
This week is a combination of collaboration and communication.
In our interconnected world, collaborative partnerships have become indispensable in professional spheres. Collaborative partnerships allow individuals or organizations to combine their unique expertise, perspectives, and resources. This diversity often leads to more innovative solutions, as different viewpoints and skills can complement and enhance one another. They are built on shared goals and mutual trust, are catalysts for innovation, growth, and sustainable relationships. But what does it take to create and maintain these partnerships, making them not just survive but thrive despite challenges.
The ability to give a presentation is an invaluable skill in today’s world, and its importance cannot be overstated. Presentations serve as a powerful means of communication. They allow you to convey information, ideas, and messages in a clear and organized manner. They facilitate effective communication with your audience, whether it’s a small group or a large gathering. Presentations enable the sharing of knowledge and expertise. They provide a platform for you to share your insights, research findings, or experiences with others. The ability to give a presentation is a key component of professional development.
This week schedule includes:
Monday: - Workshop: Collaborative Science
- Science Spotlight
Wednesday: - Workshop: Giving a Talk
Friday: - Friday Symposium
Workshop: Collaborative Science#
Collaborative Science for Biomedical Breakthroughs is fluid. Partners in these collaborative efforts experience shocks. The research project might become too big, too late, and over the budget, causing fear among other participants. This session will discuss how to cultivate loyal relationships. This session acknowledges that partnerships within collaborative projects might turn sour. Partners’ attention and priorities might shift over time. We will discuss the importance of abandoning ego-centric leadership in favor of ecosystem-centric leadership to manage relationships. We will develop strategies to maintain long-lasting partnerships for collaborative research.
We will discuss the following case study and academic article:
Case - The Antibiotics Crisis: Exploring and Maintaining Partnership Models
Article - Arslan, B., & Tarakci, M. (2022). Negative Spillovers Across Partnerships for Responsible Innovation: Evidence from the 2014 Ebola Outbreak. Journal of Management Studies, 59(1), 126-162.
Key Concepts#
Collaborative science, relationship management, long-lasting partnerships
Relevant Learning Goals#
At the end of this session, students are able to
develop strategies to align partners and maintain the collaborative research.
empathize with your partners.
Workshop: Giving a Talk#
In this workshop, you will work on your talk and practise delivering (parts) of it.
It combines various communication skills we have already worked on: creating a compelling narrative, designing effective visuals, ensuring a clear and attractive delivery, active listening, and answering (challenging) questions. The challenge of giving a good talk is that you are able to find a good mix of all these rhetorical elements and adapt well to the situation to get your key message across to various audiences. For your talk, it is time to show that you can do this!
Key Concepts#
Creating a compelling narrative
Designing effective visuals
Engaging delivery skills
Handling questions effectively
Adapting the talk to various audiences
Relevant Learning Goals#
At the end of this session, students are able to:
Prepare for delivering an effective talk, balancing all elements of the presentation situation
Practise the key concepts listed above
Group Activity of the Week#
Finalize the draft of your paper and plan your talk
Discussion Questions#
According to you, what is crucial to make your talk memorable for a mixed audience?
How have you applied this in your own talk?
What have you learned about collaborations in science? What do you think is most important?
What do you hope will happen with your research project’s results?
Who do you think should be interested/excited in the research you’ve done?
Weekly Submitted Assignments#
Group#
Submit draft of your paper and submit an outline for your talk.
Individual#
How have your collaboration skills changed over the past 18 weeks, what areas do you want to keep working on? What have you identified as most important?
References#
TU Present: Brightspace modules on various aspects of presentation skills developed by the TU Delft Centre for Languages and Academic Skills
TED-talk by Julian Treasure: how to speak so that people will listen
TED-talk by Nancy Durate: the secret structure of great talks