The future development of electronics is in the hands of nano-engineers based across Europe

By Mimi Saville
1st May 20219

Minerva travelled to Hveragerði, Iceland (March 2019) to work with 15 early stage researchers (ESRs) members of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network ELENA and lead their second annual complementary skills training course.

Minerva team members Rhonda Smith, Director & Communications Specialist, and Marie Saville, Social Media Expert, delivered the tailor-made three-day communications training, building on the training Minerva delivered at the first course held in Windsor, UK in April 2018. Creating videos, delivering elevator pitches, speaking with the media for print, radio and TV, effective use of online and social media, and delivering online webinar presentations were on the agenda.

ELENA ESRs working together to decide a theme for their ESOF 2020 proposal.

ELENA ESRs holding a series of hashtags they can utilise across social media.

Throughout the training school, the ESRs also worked together on their Scientific session proposal for submission to ESOF2020 in Trieste – the largest science communications event in Europe (www.esof.eu). Using their developing communications skills, the ELENA ESRs decided the theme, title and a rough outline plan, ready for further development prior to submission.

Although communications skills are not highest on the agenda for these talented and focused scientists, they all appreciate the need for personal development in these complementary skills.

Robin Hawthorne filming elevator pitches during the training school

ESRs practicing their elevator pitches with feedback from Rhonda Smith & Marie Saville

“The training school in Iceland was engaging & informative – it was really good to have a chance to pitch or speak and have the opportunity for someone else to give suggestions and feedback.”

“I enjoyed the Social Media training the most – increasing the visibility of our research successfully via social media has become vital these days.”

“I personally enjoyed this informative training school in Iceland. The course, and the location, was excellent!”

Feedback from ELENA ESRs

With the training session being held in such a dramatic location, the University of Iceland co-ordinating team took the opportunity to show the ESRs (and Minerva team) some of the country’s most favoured locations by a tour of the so-called ‘Golden Circle’ – a memorable trip despite freezing temperatures and frequent heavy snow storms.

 

Minerva Director, Rhonda Smith (right) with ESRs at the Icelandic Parliamentary Fields – stop number 1 on the Golden Circle tour.

*The ELENA project is funded under the EU’s MSCA H2020 funding scheme to research low energy electron driven chemistry for the advantage of emerging nano- fabrication methods and brings together diverse resources from commercial partners, research institutes and universities to study the fundamental processes underpinning two innovative, next generation nanoscopic fabrication techniques; Focused Electron Beam Induced Deposition (FEBID) and Extreme Ultra Violet Lithography (EUVL).

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