Research Methodology

Train PhD students to design methodologically sound research projects. By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Frame research problems with clear stakeholder context and scope
- Formulate explicit, falsifiable hypotheses
- Design credible evaluations with appropriate baselines and metrics
- Identify and avoid common methodological pitfalls (HARKing, baseline dressing, data leakage)
- Critically assess when a research direction is "enough" for their PhD

- Session 1 (3h): Problem Framing & Scoping — research vs engineering questions, assumptions, hypotheses, falsification criteria
- Session 2 (3h): Experimentation & Evaluation — experiment design, evaluation pitfalls, intrinsic vs extrinsic metrics, baselines, uncertainty
- Session 3 (4h): Student Presentations — individual 4-slide presentations with peer review and feedback

Individual presentation (4 slides): problem statement, scope & assumptions, definition of done, data & experiments. Assessed on clarity, falsifiability of hypotheses, and methodological soundness. Peer review component.

• The publishing landscape
• The role of scientific communication in research careers
• Overview of the publication process
• Designing the narrative of a research paper
• Strategies to build a coherent and comprehensive state-of-the-art
• Positioning one’s research within the field
• Identifying the core message and novelty 
• Paragraph organization and thematic progression
        Introduction: Framing the problem and contribution
        Materials and methods: Ensuring transparency, reproducibility, and credibility
        Results: Presenting findings with coherence and focus
        Discussion and conclusions: Interpretation, impact, and limitations
• Title and abstract: Attracting and orienting the reader
• Ensuring readability and logical connections
• Key sentences that help to convey some informations
• Figures and tables: Designing for clarity and persuasion
• PRACTICAL SESSION: Evaluation of a paper narrative
• The art of peer review
• Principles of constructive and balanced reviewing
• Writing reviews that add value
• PRACTICAL SESSION: Review of a paper
• Responding to reviewers
• Strategies for interpreting feedback
• Negotiating revisions while maintaining integrity
• Crafting effective response letters
• PRACTICAL SESSION: Drafting a response to reviewers
• Teaching

The course, totaling 10 hours per group, is divided into two distinct parts:

Part 1: Theoretical Foundations (one 2-hour session). The first part consists of a two-hour session designed to develop the theoretical foundations of effective communication. This meeting will lay the groundwork for science narration. We will address key themes such as: why emotional communication matters, the definition of science communication (SciComm), applicable storytelling techniques, and how to construct a compelling narrative.

Part 2: Practical Application (four 2-hour sessions). This phase is strictly practical and focused on the creation of a scientific presentation or narrative. The final goal is to develop short, science-based narratives (a few minutes in length) which, circumstances permitting, will be presented to the rest of the group. These sessions will be dedicated to:

- Listening to individual stories and presentations.
- Constructive feedback and peer review.
- Iterative rewriting and refinement.
- Finalizing each story for the concluding presentation.

Core Topics

Throughout the workshop, participants will explore the following topics:

• Foundations of Science Communication: Various SciComm modes, the "Deficit Model" vs. Narrative Style, the Public Understanding of Science (PUS) paradigm, critical scientific literacy, and science capital.
• Storytelling Theory and Practice: The distinction between a story and a documentary; the building blocks of a "good" story; the Hero's Journey applied to science; and techniques for integrating scientific data into a narrative arc.
• Analysis of Scientific Narratives: Case studies from FameLab, TED Talks, YouTubers, and Podcasters.
• Narrative Presentations: Applying storytelling principles to "PowerPoint-style" slide decks.
• Multimedia Tools: Introduction to software for video, audio, graphics, and image manipulation.
• Engagement Formats: Exploring podcasts, videocasts, and live theater.
• Audience Engagement: Tailoring communication for students (various levels), stakeholders, specialists, and the general public.
• Public Speaking: Practical elements, body language, and rehearsals.

Note: The list above is indicative. Given the practical and experimental nature of this workshop, individual attention will be given to specific participant needs, which may be incorporated into the program where beneficial