Public Speaking for Research

Course unit for PhD students

Aim

Public speaking is not an innate gift, but a skill that can be developed and "trained". This workshop on Public Speaking for Research aims to provide basic elements to help PhD students effectively present their research: participants will have the opportunity, through group interactions, exercises, and analysis of real-life situations, to understand all the elements underlying an effective public presentation.

The workshop will start with an analysis of the context (the various types of audience, the presentation objective, the format it is inserted into, the spaces, and logistics). It will then move on to the content of the presentation (the speech structure and the effectiveness of presentation supports), and finally cover performance and the management of critical issues.

Learning objectives

By the conclusion of the workshop, participants will have increased:

  • Their knowledge of fundamental public speaking techniques.
  • Their relational skills.
  • The ability to organize and plan their presentation, considering the context and defining objectives and methods based on the format and type of audience.

 

Course contents

1st Session (4 hours, in-person) | April  16, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

  • Icebreaker
  • The Objective
  • The Audience
  • The Take-home Message
  • The Format
  • The Pitch Structure
  • The Performance


Free from April 16 to April 21, 2026.

  • Preparation of the final pitch.
  • Recap of the first session
  • Pitch session
  • Presentation evaluation
  • Debriefing

 
Bridge Work (Individual work)

2nd Session (4 hours, in-person) | April 21, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

  • Recap of the first session
  • Pitch session
  • Presentation evaluation
  • Debriefing

 

Assessment method: Presentations (e.g., elevator pitch) shared in class

Teaching modes: In person

Duration:  8 hours, in 2 meetings of 4 hours + homework for the preparation of the final pitch.

Available places: 25 participants

Period: April 16 and 21, 2026, from 9.00 to 13.00

Language of the course: English

Trainers: Representative of the Skills and Territories for Innovation Unit | ART-ER in collaboration with the Scientific dissemination office of the University of Bologna.

Location: Classroom 1 Redenti, via Andreatta 8, at the school of legal specializations “E. Redenti”.

Doctoral credits (DCs): 0,5

Activity financed by the European Funds of the Emilia-Romagna Region POR-FSE 2021-2027.