Good research communication is crucial, not just for a university’s reputation, but also to help counter disinformation and misinformation. However, not all academics are interested in dealing with the public – and even those who are interested may feel like they lack the experience and training for it.

This conference talk will present a case study of a successful programme (the XJTLU Research Outreach Ambassadors Programme) that empowers academics to bridge the gap between complex research and public engagement for their research to achieve greater impact.

We will explore the challenges faced, and the steps we took, including developing a survey so we could better tailor our programme to our researchers’ unique needs, offering four tiers of communications training for a strong foundation, and encouraging self-editing of earlier work to track progress.

Attendees will gain valuable insights to develop similar initiatives in their own institutions, fostering wider research dissemination and public outreach. Let's unlock the potential of academic research, promote collaboration, and help your institution’s research to resonate with a broader audience.