How can complex knowledge be communicated in a way that's understandable, memorable, and relevant to different audiences? That question was at the heart of the 9th CCCA Writing Workshop, held this year at the University of Vienna. Over two days, participants worked together with journalists from DOSSIER to explore how scientific content can be transformed into clear language, accessible formats, and compelling stories. Because one thing is clear: plain language and well-structured sentences don't just make texts easier to read — they also make them accessible to a broader audience.
Right from the start, participants dived into the fundamentals of storytelling and journalistic writing. What quickly became apparent: good science communication has a lot to do with precision, structure, deliberate language choices, and a captivating story.
Nora Gau from the ECH, University of Vienna, also gave a brief insight into her work at the interface between science and the public. A live call with Arno Scharl (webLyzard) opened up a new perspective on AI-assisted text work using the Storypact Editor. After an overview of further helpful tools for text revision, the focus shifted to texts submitted in advance by participants. Individual text examples were discussed, analysed, commented on, and revised together — always with the goal of communicating scientific content in a way that's understandable without losing depth.
On the second day, the focus shifted for the first time this year to the topic of social media. Starting from the question of how to reach people beyond one's own specialist community, participants explored how different platforms work and which target audiences can be reached where. Canva and CapCut were introduced as practical tools for preparing and presenting content. Particular attention was also paid to accessibility — including high-contrast visuals and plain language.
To wrap things up, a heartfelt thank you to all the enthusiastic participants and to all the speakers! We'd also like to say another big thank you to the ECH for the delicious vegan bagels during our lunch breaks!
