About Me
Scientist - Communicator - Trainer
Hi there - glad you want to know who I am!
I'm David. A scientist with background in life sciences from Bonn, Germany, fascinated with communication.
Since 2015, I successfully guide fellow scientists to become better communicators.
But what is my story?
1
I recieved my PhD in Biomedicine for working on a truncated proton channel in human sperm. Unfortunately, nobody outside academia is interested in the physiology of ion-channels. In contrast, nearly everybody seems interested in sperm. This is how I got on stage as a Science Slammer, was awarded West-German Champion in 2016 and ranked 3rd at the All-German Championship in the same year.
2
Fascinated with proteins, I did a four year Postdoc in Structural Biology. But the pipette was not enough. In parallel, I started working as a host for scientific events, pannel discussions, science slams etc. And I begun to train scientists in stage presence and target-group oriented communication. (And also ran a foodtruck for some years, but this is another story)
3
I eventually left the pipette behind. Since 2019, communication has been at the center of my day - be it through public events, video productions, press releases, social media, website or in direct conversation. In parallel I continue to equip scientists with advanced communication skills and expanded my own skillset, for example with didactics and teaching methods.
And appart from (Life-)Science Communication?
Besides work, I spend a lot of time with my child, go for walks with my two pet pigs, out for dinner with my beautiful wife or am mountainbiking through the woods of the seven mountains.
PhD & Postdoc
Communicator
Moderator
Trainer
My training
philosophy
I conduct
trainings in the field of science communication to
enable scientists to
- communicate their topics in a target-group oriented way
- integrate science communication (in a time-saving way) into their everyday life as researchers
- communicate their research to a wider audience, both within and outside the scientific community
I see my role as an expert and guide. Through my teaching, I want to convey the principles of good science communication, show scientists how they can develop in this area and guide them in this process.
My teaching is always based on my own
enthusiasm for science and conveys relevant theories and
professional methods of communication, paired with best practices from my own career as a communicator and
communicating scientist.
In my trainings, it is important to me to present the contents in an approachable way and to create examples for
direct application. This makes it easier for participants to recognize the relevance for their own communication, to internalize the content conveyed, to adapt it to their needs and goals and finally to put it into practice. Making this process as
easy as possible for the participants is one of my core tasks as a trainer.
As a
facilitator, I focus on the problems that the participants are confronted with. In my trainings, the participants therefore do not work on ready-made examples, but on their own topics. This also allows me to gain a direct insight into the participants' projects and working methods and hence to provide them with tailored
support in communicating their scientific contents.
Just as the participants learn to prepare their contents and topics in a way that is appropriate for their target group, it is my aim to
adapt the content of my training courses to the respective prior knowledge, expectations and objectives of my participants in the best possible way.
Overall, my aim is to
encourage scientists to increase and improve their communicative activities through the training courses I conduct. I achieve this goal primarily by fostering enthusiasm, breaking down (perceived) barriers and providing the tools necessary for a
professional communication.
Where it all started...
This is one of my Science Slams, recorded at SO36, Berlin, way back in January 2016. Enjoy!
