Facilitation skills
for science and society dialogue
This series of five online workshops looks at the skills necessary to facilitate conversations that link science and research with societal needs and values. As facilitators, we play a crucial role in structuring this dialogue: exploring perspectives, identifying common ground and building consensus. Specific techniques can be employed to ensure participants are comfortable to engage and work towards having equal voices in the discussion.
About the programme
Bringing together facilitators from across Europe
This course will be of relevance to researchers, science communicators and facilitators from across Europe who are involved in dialogue activities that bring people together to discuss societal questions around research, from science cafés to co-creating innovation.
One introductory workshop plus four two-hour modules will explore and develop a range of skills:
Establishing a framework for dialogue and opening discussionActive listening and formulating questionsDivergent and convergent thinking and consensus decision-makingMulti-stakeholder discussions and challenging situations
See Programme Schedule below for the full description of each module.
Insight from a broad range of experiences
This workshop series is led by the Stickydot team who have a wealth of expertise in facilitating dialogue and participatory processes around research and innovation, on and offline. These sessions will be held in English, online via Zoom. They draw on existing good practices and theory both within our sector and further afield. They are dynamic and interactive, ensuring plenty of time for discussion and sharing of experiences.“The training has already impacted our team, as members have implemented new facilitation methods, leading to improved collaboration and decision-making. We highly recommend Stickydot’s facilitation training for organisations seeking to boost their team’s skills.” – Ryan Titley, Director of Projects, ERRIN, Belgium
“The Stickydot facilitation course enabled me to learn (and try!) new techniques in a safe and fun environment. The sessions were really interactive and kept me on my toes! A big bonus was meeting other facilitators so we could learn from each other. Highly recommend!” – Kate Baker, Senior Research Fellow, University of Exeter, UK
“I had a great experience during the Facilitation Skills course: the quality of the trainers, the materials and the exercises proposed, generated a very safe and comfortable environment of participation. I think that all the group felt the same way and the other trainees were also a source of inspiration and learning to me. I felt challenged in a very positive way, and I got very useful tools for improving my facilitation skills.” – Claudia Aguirre. Director. TRACES / Espace des Sciences Pierre-Gilles de Gennes. Paris, France
Programme schedule
Tuesday 2nd May 2023, 15:00 – 16:00 CET
Repeated Tuesday 16th May 2023, 15:00 – 16:00 CET
Free of charge; registration only
As facilitators of science and society dialogue, what does our role entail? This introductory workshop will explore the responsibilities we take on regarding our participants and the topics we address. We will look at what sets us apart from facilitators on other issues: how does the need for evidence-based discussion affect our objectivity? How can we embed this reflexivity into our practice?
Tuesday 30th May 2023, 15:00 – 17:00 CET
When we bring a group together for the first time for dialogue, we need to affirm not only our role as facilitators, but the role of the participants. How do we set the scene for an inclusive discussion from the outset? What role can co-creation play in establishing norms for interaction among our participants? This session will also be a chance to test out a key technique for making sure our participants are heard and understood: active listening.
Tuesday 6th June 2023, 15:00 – 17:00 CET
What makes a great question? Closed or open, neutral or leading, clarifying or reflective, the questions we put to our participants are crucial in shaping the dialogue that takes place. This session will explore the theory and provide an opportunity for practice. We will apply these skills around active listening and questions to the context of building consensus: how do we find common ground?
Tuesday 13th June 2023, 15:00 – 17:00 CET
This session will explore the specific context that we come across often: a brainstorming and prioritisation exercise. How can we help our participants to step up and contribute creatively in a brainstorm setting? And what do we need to bear in mind when guiding them through assigning priority to the outcomes? A peer feedback session will ensure we explore this exercise from a range of perspectives.
Tuesday 20th June 2023, 15:00 – 17:00 CET
This final session will be a chance to put into practice the skills we have been developing across the series. As facilitators, we often bring together people from a range of professional profiles. What do we need to bear in mind when the conversation includes scientists, policymakers, activists or industry professionals alongside the general public? Group dynamics can vary greatly according to cultural contexts or individual mindsets: we will share good practices and test them out in roleplays to reflect on how to address a set of tricky situations.
Practical information
Would you like to run this workshop for your organisation? Get in touch: info@stickydot.eu
Trainers
Michael designs and facilitates dialogue activities around research. He has worked with organisations including SAPEA, the European Commission’s Scientific Advice Mechanism; the Free University of Brussels (VUB), Innoviris, the Brussels institute for R&I and EASO, the European Association for the Study of Obesity.
Marzia facilitates stakeholder engagement leading to social innovation and co-design. She has worked with ECSA (the European Citizen Science Association), EU-funded projects such as TRANSFORM and MOSAIC, and institutions like Cariplo Factory.
Maria has been working on public engagement projects for more than 8 years. She ran numerous training sessions for projects such as SySTEM2020 and Sparks. Recent assignments include the organisation of a series of participatory webinars for EUFIC, the European Food Information Council.
