Edition organized in person in Naples and online
We are pleased to invite university professors and researchers interested in expanding their skills in scientific communication through new media to participate in the “New Media Academy for Dissemination: From Research to Dissemination,” a training course promoted by Fondazione Return in collaboration with Will and Chora Media.
We invite you to express your interest by September 26, 2025, by completing this form.
Online Presentation Meeting
An online presentation of the Fondazione RETURN Academy is scheduled for September 10 at 1:30 p.m. (click here to join).
Participation is free of charge and limited to a maximum of 20 selected participants.
Introduction
In the field of science communication—once dominated by books and conferences—new forms of storytelling have emerged, offering unexplored opportunities and perspectives. In this context, updating researchers’ communication skills is key to designing innovative ways to share research with the public and to revitalizing the dissemination of knowledge beyond university walls.
“New media” represent a fast-evolving ecosystem of languages and platforms. Social media, newsletters, and podcasts are among the main tools now available to those who wish to share their research activities, including with audiences outside the scientific community.
Fondazione RETURN aims to train a group of researchers, experts, and professionals in the environmental sector who share the goal of ensuring the accuracy and reliability of information shared with the public. Its mission is to contribute to a more informed and resilient society, capable of addressing environmental challenges with knowledge and awareness.
Will Media and Chora Media have created the New Media Academy, a training school where participants can learn digital journalism, storytelling, and podcasting directly from Will and Chora Media professionals—who use these tools daily to reach millions of users across multiple platforms. Within this framework, collaborations have been established with companies, universities, foundations, and associations to develop customized training programs tailored to the specific learning needs of each organization.
The Academy
The Academy developed in collaboration with Fondazione RETURN aims to create an innovative training model. Participation is limited to a maximum of 20 participants.
The training model is hybrid (in-person in Naples and online), combining theoretical lessons, workshops, and practical exercises. Each participant will develop their own science communication project based on their research activity and using the three main languages explored during the Academy: podcasts, social media, and newsletters.
The course will run over two months, consisting of approximately 20 hours of lessons and 20 hours of individual project work.
Program
Opening Day
(in person in Naples – venue TBD)
Thursday, October 16 | 10:00–13:00 & 14:00–17:00
The World of New Media (10:00–13:00)
Platforms, formats, and languages used in science communication today, supported by data, case studies, and national and international best practices.
Practical Session: From Research to Dissemination (14:00–17:00)
How to move from a research project to designing an effective public dissemination strategy.
Online Training
Thursday, October 30 | 11:00–13:00 – Podcast: the global landscape of research storytelling through podcasts.
Thursday, November 6 | 11:00–13:00 – Social Media: platforms, rules, and languages shaping communication today.
Thursday, November 13 | 11:00–13:00 – Newsletter: techniques and tools for building newsletters and communities around specific topics.
After each online session, participants will receive a practical assignment to complete before the next meeting.
Pitch Sessions
(three 1-hour sessions, one for each communication format)
Thursday, November 27 | 10:00 / 11:30 / 14:00
How to prepare a pitch: transforming a science communication idea into an editorial project (format, target audience, objectives).
Office Hours
Between November 28 and December 5, participants will have the opportunity to schedule one-on-one meetings with their instructor to prepare their final pitch.
Final Pitch Presentations and Evaluation
(in person in Naples – venue TBD)
Thursday, December 11 | 10:00–13:00
Presentation of the science communication pitches.
Each participant will present the project developed during the Academy and receive feedback from the evaluation committee.
