On 7 and 8 September 2026, second-year SoCoBio PhD researchers from across the South travelled to Portsmouth for the annual Science Communication Summer School, the final Summer School to be hosted by the University of Portsmouth.

The event began with a warm welcome from the Portsmouth SoCoBio Academic Lead, accompanied by pastries and coffee, setting the tone for two inspiring and interactive days.

Researchers were divided into four groups and rotated through a series of engaging, hands-on media training sessions. Across the two days, participants developed a range of science communication skills through workshops on:

• Media interview training
• Public engagement
• Turning research into compelling stories for non-specialist audiences
• Podcast production, culminating in the recording of a group podcast about their research

On the Monday evening, attendees enjoyed a group meal at the Still & West in Old Portsmouth, with stunning views overlooking the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour.

Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the variety and quality of the training. Comments included:

“The range of sessions was good.”

“The length of training was perfect, and the sessions were really informative.”

“Thank you for making this a memorable two days!”

“My favourite SoCoBio training.”

A huge thank you goes to all of the presenters who contributed to the success of the Summer School: James Targout and Ed Baker from Deep South Media, Professor Jen Gupta (Public Engagement), Dr Vincent Adams (Research Stories), and Chris Wood and Freddie Hunt (Podcasting).

The University of Portsmouth is proud to have hosted this final Science Communication Summer School and to have supported SoCoBio researchers in developing the skills and confidence to communicate their research to a wide range of audiences.