Beyond Research for Institutions

Experiential Cohort Program

Real communication skills aren’t built in one workshop — they’re built through practice, feedback, and belonging to a community. Build communications skills with community coaching and real world practice.

The Cohort experience creates a learning environment where participants try new skills, refine them with expert support, and learn from one another across disciplines and career stages.

What makes it effective

Who is the cohort experience for?

This program is designed for research centers, university departments/schools, agencies, and other organizations.
Effective communication drives interdisciplinary collaboration, builds durable trust with partners and decision makers, and strengthens the case for funding in competitive grant landscapes.

By investing in our expert-led workshops, your institution cultivates the skills, confidence, and credibility needed to communicate science that resonates — within teams and throughout your community.

Program components

Pieces of scattered paper with different soft skills listed.

Skills

Interactive workshops that strengthen core SciComm competencies through guided activities and real examples with techniques for assessing communication effectiveness, helping participants recognize what works and refine their approach.

Inflatable dome in a school gymnasium. Students sitting on the floor receiving brief instruction from instructional leader.

Practice

Opportunities to work with partner organizations for audience-specific practice and applied experiences with individualized 1:1 coaching to strengthen communication products and refine personal style.

A group of smiling attendees poses together behind a large white AGU logo and photo frame backdrop at the American Geophysical Union conference. The AGU wall behind them reads “Advancing Earth and Space Sciences.”

Community

A dedicated cohort of peers who learn, practice, and grow together with peer feedback sessions over several weeks or months and opportunities to work with parter organizations for audience-specific practice and applied experiences.

How does it work?

Step 1

Set institutional goals and expectations for the program

Step 2

Participate in customized workshop series with 1:1 guidance

Step 3

Connect to outreach partner with support and prepare audience activities

Step 4

Iterate activities based on feedback loops from peers and outreach partners

The word info on yellow missing puzzle piece. Information concept.

Logistics

  • Ideal cohort size: 8–20
  • Format: Live online
  • Time commitment: 1.5–3 hours/week during active weeks
  • Tech: Zoom + optional Slack channel


Ready to build skills, support practice and grow a communication community at your institution?