Why Practical Geocommunication?

How can help people feel invested in our planet and change behaviour? How can we drive more students to embark on careers that will be essential to the sustainability of society? How can we improve the image of the geosciences in academia and industry?

Find out how 'Practical Geocommuniation' delivers solid and actionable solutions to your geoscience outreach and what academics and professionals from around the world have said about the course.

CFES Member Organisations

CFES member organisations are entitled to an 80% discount on the course price. Please get in touch with your organisation's secretary for your discount coupon.
CFES Member Organisations

Accredited and Endorsed

...by leading global geoscience organisations

Some of the biggest geoscience entities in the world have taken a stand by endorsing Practical Geocommunication. They understand that effective public outreach is a critical skill that all geoscientists should develop.

Exclusive Content

Over 3 HOURS of Bonus Material

Exclusive interviews with Prof. Iain Stewart (BBC Science and UNESCO Chair) and a mini-course from Prof. Sam Illingworth (Poetry and Geocommunication). Practical Geocommunication is packed with extras to help you make the most of your outreach.
Prof. Iain Stewart

Bonus Course Included

Your CFES purchase includes Out There Learning Ltd's Geological Society of London accredited course, Geoscience Outreach in Primary and Middle Schools ($95 when purchased separately).

What Others Have Said...

5 star rating

Awesome course

Gordon Stove

Just completed this course in one go. Once I started, I couldn't stop! A wealth of information, tips and learnings. Absolutely brilliant course!

Just completed this course in one go. Once I started, I couldn't stop! A wealth of information, tips and learnings. Absolutely brilliant course!

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5 star rating

Thoroughly enjoyable

Juan Cottier

Fun to do. Dr Haydon Mort has a compelling manner. The content was great. I feel better informed on completion. Thanks!

Fun to do. Dr Haydon Mort has a compelling manner. The content was great. I feel better informed on completion. Thanks!

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5 star rating

Lots of useful methods and approaches for Geocommunciating

David Limmer

Really enjoyable, easy to follow course, lots of extremely useful tips and tricks for mastering communicating. Very logical and lots of useful exercises to try.

Really enjoyable, easy to follow course, lots of extremely useful tips and tricks for mastering communicating. Very logical and lots of useful exercises to try.

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5 star rating

Very engaging and a must for all scientists (not just geoscientists!)

Rosalie Constable

I highly recommend this course. It provides practical advice and examples in an engaging and thought-provoking way, supported by tasks and assignments to reinforce the key points of each class. I now feel I have a much better understanding of how ...

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I highly recommend this course. It provides practical advice and examples in an engaging and thought-provoking way, supported by tasks and assignments to reinforce the key points of each class. I now feel I have a much better understanding of how I can more effectively communicate with non-scientists. I would recommend this course for scientists of any background as the concepts could be easily applied across any discipline.

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5 star rating

Insightful, Engaging and Thought-provoking

Lewis Lawrence

Excellent course if you are a Geoscientist and feel like the communication between the geosciences and the public has a poor relationship. Dr Mort does a fantastic job at bringing new ideas to the table in the quest to bridge the gap between the p...

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Excellent course if you are a Geoscientist and feel like the communication between the geosciences and the public has a poor relationship. Dr Mort does a fantastic job at bringing new ideas to the table in the quest to bridge the gap between the public and the geoscience world. I would highly recommend this course.

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5 star rating

Switching the context

Benjamin Lepley

I took the course with the aim of improving my methods of communication but actually learnt that I was thinking about the entire concept wrong. It is not about teaching or lecturing but understanding the communcation from the participants' viewpoi...

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I took the course with the aim of improving my methods of communication but actually learnt that I was thinking about the entire concept wrong. It is not about teaching or lecturing but understanding the communcation from the participants' viewpoint and making an emotional connection to allow for any information to be retained. I highly recommend the course for anyone wishing to take a relatively complex and specific topic to the public.

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5 star rating

Superb! A must for anyone who's thinking about public outreach.

Peter Taylor

What a fantastic course! So much useful information and the clearest breakdown you'll find about how to build an effective communication strategy. I can't recommend it highly enough.

What a fantastic course! So much useful information and the clearest breakdown you'll find about how to build an effective communication strategy. I can't recommend it highly enough.

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5 star rating

An eye-opener

Sikandar Hayat

It is an eye-opener course. It made me realize how important geocommunication is and how far-reaching its impacts are. I will utilize all the skills I learned here to play my role in the betterment of earth sciences and society.

It is an eye-opener course. It made me realize how important geocommunication is and how far-reaching its impacts are. I will utilize all the skills I learned here to play my role in the betterment of earth sciences and society.

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5 star rating

Very pleased

Gretchen Gillis

I am pleased with the Practical Geocommunication training I just completed online. The course is divided into interesting and manageable pieces that build on each other. The messages are clear and comprehensible. I look forward to implementing le...

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I am pleased with the Practical Geocommunication training I just completed online. The course is divided into interesting and manageable pieces that build on each other. The messages are clear and comprehensible. I look forward to implementing lessons learned!

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Curriculum

Find out what makes 'Practical Geocommunication' your one-stop shop for all your communication needs in the geosciences.

  • Why communicate the geosciences? Case studies demonstrating our ethical obligation to communicate.

  • From neurology to orating. The science and practice of effective communication in the geosciences.

  • The power of analogy and linguistic tools. Geologizing and transposing geoscientific content into everyday concepts.

  • Identify distortions in the media and strategies to stand up effectively to them. Particular emphasis on climate change.

  • Strategies to promote powerful social media engagement in the geosciences. Case studies and practicals.

  • Strategies for geoparks and geotourism projects to help them improve their audience demographics and engagement.

  • Bonus material, quizzes, assignments, certificates.

FAQs

Some questions we get asked a lot.

  • What is the teaching method?

    Each lesson begins with a big question to get your neurons firing. Then comes the lesson itself. The lesson always includes at least one practical activity in the middle or near the end. There are often assignments (not compulsory) and quizzes to test for understanding of essential elements.

  • How long will it take me to do it?

    You can work through the course at your own pace. However, if you wished to work on the course intensely, completing the work as required, you could probably finish in around 10 hours.

  • Is there a certificate available at the end?

    Absolutely. Upon completion of the course (the main video lessons are compulsory elements), you will be provided with a personalised certificate with the logos of Geologize, The Geological Society of London and the European Federation of Geologists.

Sponsors

We'd like to thank our sponsors for supporting geoscience communication.

Without our incredible sponsors, this course would not exist. Their belief in the importance of effective public outreach highlights their commitment to the role of the geosciences in a more sustainable future. We'd like to give them a big shout out here.

Your Instructor

Dr Haydon Mort

Lead Instructor

Dr Haydon Mort is the CEO and Founder of Geologize Ltd. A geologist with 15 years of research experience, his encounters with neurology put him on a parallel path in the science of attention, memory formation and communication. He is a global leader in geocommunication and has forged alliances to help bring about positive shifts in public perception of the geosciences.