Films are the perfect vehicle to interpret our surroundings, and the world of medicines is no exception. The Societat Catalana de Farmacologia (Catalan Society of Pharmacology) presents the conference Cine y medicamentos (Cinema and Medicines), ?in which three leading pharmacologists will analyse the discipline from the perspective of three recent films in the history of cinema.

The conference will take place on 25 February 2015 at 6 pm in room 9 of the Academy (Major de Can Caralleu, 1-7. Barcelona). The programme will be as follows:

The presence of medicines in commercial cinema
Josep-Eladi Baños
Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Conflicts of medicines in times of aids: Dallas Buyer's Club
Magí Farré
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

The pharmaceutical industry in the cinema: The constant gardener
Fèlix Bosch
Universitat Pompeu Fabra / Fundación Dr. Antonio Esteve

Clinical research with medicines and ethical conflicts: Extreme measures
Josep-Eladi Baños

Debate

Download

Audiovisual format is becoming increasingly more important both in obtaining resources for research and for scientific dissemination, particularly if it reaches the target public in an attractive, contemporary and understandable way. This new course from Fundación Esteve intends to set the basis on how to communicate scientific projects by recording and editing short, simple and effective videos using a mobile telephone camera or similar.

It is addressed to both students and scientific and media professionals who are interested in disseminating their projects or science in general. The course How to disseminate your research project in a 60" video took place on 17 and 18 February 2015 in Barcelona. A group of 22 scientists had the opportunity of putting forward a project which they wanted to record on video. Out of all the proposals, one was selected by the participants to jointly develop two types of project: one for general dissemination and another to seek funding. 

The course was directed by Ana Montserrat Rosell, director of the programme tres14 of Channel 2. Participants took part in the whole process of creating a video, from selecting the subject and approach, to its edition. They also participated in preparing the script and taking images with a smartphone. They were also helped by Daniel Camino, a post-production director, who showed them the key aspects of video-editing programmes such as  iMovie and Windows Movie Maker.

According to Ana Montserrat, the first and most important question that every scientist should ask themselves before preparing a video, is why it is needed and to whom it is addressed. Once the goal has been defined, she recommends reducing the message to one single idea and keeping an open mind to all types of resources and methods. To demonstrate this, she projected several fragments of films and advertising campaigns which, based on a lot of skill, were able to capture the attention of the audience in seconds. 

During the two days of the course, Ana Montserrat and Daniel Camino taught them some tricks to record images (types of shots, sound recording, etc), and how to obtain resources from royalty-free image and music banks, for example. This was to show them that large, expensive professional equipment is not necessary to make a good dissemination video, and that everyone can get audiovisual support for their scientific projects. All you need is a mobile telephone, a computer and a good idea.

The subject selected for the participants of the course was focused on research that aimed to discover up to what point marmots adapt their language to new surroundings to alert them to predators, for example. Group 1 developed a video to disseminate the results, and group 2 made another video to achieve crowdfunding. Here is the result.

These videos form part of training activities and therefore part of their content is fictitious.

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder

Biomedical professionals need to be able to communicate effectively in writing and in speaking. However, most professionals receive little specific training in communication skills.

Science is an international endeavor, and English is the lingua franca of the international scientific community. Although Spanish biomedical professionals invest heavily in learning English, they often lack the skills in scientific English that are necessary to express their ideas clearly.

This training seminar aims to help students begin to improve their scientific English. We introduce a few basic concepts underlying effective oral and written communication in science and give students the opportunity to put the theory into practice in a relaxed atmosphere of open discussion and feedback. Finally, we discuss resources and approaches to help students continue to improve on their own after the course.

Professors:

Brian McCarthy
For seven years Brian has been running workshops and coaching people from the fields of science, academia and business make presentations on a wide range of issues. He has worked as a communications consultant for the Esteve Foundation, IRB, Telefonica, UOC and UAB. He also works as a medical writer for ThomsonReuters and has translated and edited dozens of academic articles in the fields of science and the humanities. Before coming to live in Spain in 2005, he was a professional theatre director and acting teaching in Ireland.

John Giba
Born and educated (BSc, University of Pittsburgh, 1984) in the U.S.A., John has taught English in Spain since 1985. He helps scientists and healthcare practitioners prepare papers for international journals and oral presentations for congresses. He has given presentations and workshops in several courses in biomedical English. He teaches a module in scientific English for various Master’s degree programs offered through the medical schools of the University of Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Barcelona. He has coauthored three books about scientific communication: Surgical English (2010), Inglés Médico y Sanitario (2010), and Preparing and Delivering Scientific Presentations (2011).

The eighth edition of this training seminar was organized in Barcelona (February, 2-3 2015) by the Esteve Foundation in collaboration with the IRB Barcelona.

ngg_shortcode_1_placeholder

After four consecutive years at the Instituto RTVE of Madrid, on 22 and 23 October 2015, the course El científico ante los medios de comunicación (The scientist and the media) was held at the Sant Cugat TVE studios, for scientists to gain an in-depth view of an editorial staff. Once again organized by the Esteve Foundation, Indagando TV, the CSIC and the Instituto RTVE, this two-day experience enabled scientists to learn the work dynamics of the media and the key aspects of its operation. The aim is for scientists to learn how to handle situations that have become increasingly more frequent for health professionals, such as television interviews or press releases.

The course is given to a small group of 25 students, to work on radio and television news in real time, in radio and television studios. Scientists also have the opportunity of experimenting with a simulation of a press release, where they can put themselves in the shoes of different players involved, from the journalist covering the event, to the professional who has to face awkward questions.

Apart from audiovisual media, the course also explores other fields such as corporate communication, essential nowadays in all scientific institutions, documentaries and dissemination by Internet. Six active professionals, both in RTVE and in other media, show the group of scientists the key aspects of their work as journalists. Graziella Almendral, director of the scientific dissemination channel Indagando TV and coordinator of the course, presents the basic aspects of Television news, while América Valenzuela, presenter of the Radio 5 programme Ciencia al cubo, focuses on the characteristics of radio language.

Marc de Semir, director of communications of the Fundación Bertelsmann, is in charge of corporate communication, while social communication from public institutions is given by Pilar Tigeras, vice president of Scientific Culture and Organization of the CSIC. Pampa García Molina, coordinator of the SINC agency, takes on scientific contents in Internet and social networks. Lastly, Ana Montserrat Rosell, director of the dissemination programme tres14 of Channel 2, contributes her experience in documentaries.

This edition of El científico ante los medios de comunicación in Barcelona also received a special visit at the Sant Cugat TVE studios from the journalist Isidre Ramos and the participation of Pere Buhigas, director of the scientific programme Lab24 of the channel 24 horas, and Marta Càceres, presenter of Para todos La 2. The Esteve Foundation would like to thank Miguel Ángel Martín, Santiago Hernández and M. Carmen Franco, of the Instituto RTVE in Barcelona, for making this first edition at the Sant Cugat studios possible.

Related news (L’informatiu cap de setmana 24/01/2015):

Els científics aprenen a comunicar a l’Institut de RTVE

ngg_shortcode_2_placeholder

When speaking in front of an audience, only 15% of what actually reaches the public corresponds to the spoken message. In contrast, more than half the information retained by listeners lies in nonverbal communication. Indeed, the lecturer’s posture, gesture and eye gaze tell a lot more on how he/she feels than mere words.

These courses organized by the Esteve Foundation on How to perform oral presentations in biomedicine attempt to approach all the aspects directly related to this skill. No matter how good the content selections are, how clearly and orderly the data are exposed and how reliable the audiovisual support is: they’ll all be clean forgotten if the speaker’s enunciation, eye contact, posture and audience exchange are poor.

This 26th edition, held on 20 and 21 January 2015 in Terrassa was again imparted by four teachers that combine the two approaches. On the one hand, family physician Elena Muñoz and Pharmacology professor Maria Isabel Martín unveiled the keys for a good biomedical presentation. On the other hand, professional actors Àlex Mañas and Marc Clotet provided some tricks for good vocal and bodily expression.

Theory and practice were combined during these two work days. The attendants had to perform different exercises to put their communication skills to the test. The objective was to perfect hand movements and body posture, to profit from eye gaze, to improve improvisational capacity, to overcome embarrassing situations, etc.

In the last course session, consisting in performing a ten-minute presentation, each student had to put into practice the knowledge acquired during the previous hours. That is when the many factors involved in a presentation are evidenced, from the size and color of the letters in a slide to the speed and loudness of the speaker’s voice. The golden rule, however, is self-confidence, particularly when facing an audience involves significant psychological erosion.

ngg_shortcode_3_placeholder

If drawing up a research project to obtain funds used to be an important part in the career of all scientists, in view of today’s economical situation, this process has become essential. The Esteve Foundation therefore decided to organize a new course addressed to future health science researchers, to learn the techniques and basic skills to apply for research projects from funding agencies and other institutions.

Four specialists in preventive medicine and public health, who have participated in a number of research projects, showed around thirty students the keys to draw up a good project. The course took place on 12 and 13 January 2015 in the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), during which the participants learnt about the different types of projects, the different sources of funding and how to approach them.

Teresa Ruiz Cantero, coordinator and currently vice-dean of research, postgraduate/doctorate and international relations of the faculty of heath sciences of  Universidad de Alicante, explained “whoever takes on the task of drawing up a project to obtain funds for research, has to control many aspects, from the bibliographic revision to the declaration of new and attractive hypothesis, along with developing a work plan and a realistic costs estimate”.

Fellow lecturers were Carlos Álvarez-Dardet, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, and director of the Doctorate programme in Health Sciences of Universidad de Alicante; Elena Ronda, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health of Universidad de Alicante; and Blanca Lumbreras, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health of Universidad Miguel Hernández.

Sessions:

Introducción curso
Concepto de protocolo
Antecedentes y justificación
Hipótesis
Formulación de objetivos
Metodología I
Metodología II
Plan de trabajo
Caracteristicas del equipo y Medios disponibles y Justificación de financiación
Marco estratégico
Evaluación metodológica
Beneficios de la investigación

ngg_shortcode_4_placeholder

Sorry, this entry is only available in European Spanish and Catalan.

When speaking in front of an audience, only 15% of what actually reaches the public corresponds to the spoken message. In contrast, more than half the information retained by listeners lies in nonverbal communication. Indeed, the lecturer’s posture, gesture and eye gaze tell a lot more on how he/she feels than mere words.

These courses organized by the Esteve Foundation on How to perform oral presentations in biomedicine attempt to approach all the aspects directly related to this skill. No matter how good the content selections are, how clearly and orderly the data are exposed and how reliable the audiovisual support is: they’ll all be clean forgotten if the speaker’s enunciation, eye contact, posture and audience exchange are poor.

This 25th edition, held on 3 and 4 December 2014 in Palma de Mallorca was again imparted by four teachers that combine the two approaches. On the one hand, family physician Elena Muñoz and Pharmacology professor Maria Isabel Martín unveiled the keys for a good biomedical presentation. On the other hand, professional actors Àlex Mañas and Marc Clotet provided some tricks for good vocal and bodily expression.

Theory and practice were combined during these two work days. The attendants had to perform different exercises to put their communication skills to the test. The objective was to perfect hand movements and body posture, to profit from eye gaze, to improve improvisational capacity, to overcome embarrassing situations, etc.

In the last course session, consisting in performing a ten-minute presentation, each student had to put into practice the knowledge acquired during the previous hours. That is when the many factors involved in a presentation are evidenced, from the size and color of the letters in a slide to the speed and loudness of the speaker’s voice. The golden rule, however, is self-confidence, particularly when facing an audience involves significant psychological erosion.

ngg_shortcode_5_placeholder

If drawing up a research project to obtain funds used to be an important part in the career of all scientists, in view of today’s economical situation, this process has become essential. The Esteve Foundation therefore decided to organize a new course addressed to future health science researchers, to learn the techniques and basic skills to apply for research projects from funding agencies and other institutions.

Four specialists in preventive medicine and public health, who have participated in a number of research projects, showed around thirty students the keys to draw up a good project. The course took place on 26 and 27 November 2014 in the faculty of health sciences of Universidad de Alicante, during which the participants learnt about the different types of projects, the different sources of funding and how to approach them.

Teresa Ruiz Cantero, coordinator and currently vice-dean of research, postgraduate/doctorate and international relations of the faculty of heath sciences of  Universidad de Alicante, explained “whoever takes on the task of drawing up a project to obtain funds for research, has to control many aspects, from the bibliographic revision to the declaration of new and attractive hypothesis, along with developing a work plan and a realistic costs estimate”.

Fellow lecturers were Carlos Álvarez-Dardet, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, and director of the Doctorate programme in Health Sciences of Universidad de Alicante; Elena Ronda, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health of Universidad de Alicante; and Blanca Lumbreras, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health of Universidad Miguel Hernández.

ngg_shortcode_6_placeholder

The various debates organized by the Esteve Foundation between scientists and journalists always highlighted one weakness in science journalism: lack of communication between both parties. The range of specialized courses in science for journalists is extensive, however, we cannot say that the reverse is true. Medical personnel from both the field of research and the care remain mostly in the dark regarding the functioning of the media.

On the 19th and 20th November 2014, The Esteve Foundation, RTVE Institute, Indagando TV and the CSIC launched the fourth edition of a new course aimed at scientists interested in getting to know the main elements of journalistic work. The course The scientist before the media gave scientists the opportunity to get closer to the dynamic work of journalists and learn the keys to their performance, from the rhythm of the broadcast to the technical components, to the various types of broadcasts that can be made and how to prepare. It looked at the tools that can help the scientist better control the situation and establish a relationship with the journalist to improve collaboration to get the news to the public.

The course was run at the RTVE Institute’s facilities in Madrid, which are usually used for audiovisual training of professionals in public broadcasting. For two days, the participants got to know a real TV set and a radio studio and learned how information is handled in an audiovisual medium. In addition to practical exercises in radio and television, the course also explored other areas such as corporate communication (indispensable today in any scientific institution), and reporting and disclosure on the Internet.

ngg_shortcode_7_placeholder