Open Communications

The "Open Communications" initiative seeks to develop a Caribbean “community of practice”  and a cadre of science and data journalists with the capacity for the development and use of innovative research communication mechanisms including:

  • Data visualisation techniquesfor extended reach and impact
  • Web 2.0 strategies for network building, research dissemination and impact
  • communication planning, and
  • Strategic use of video 
with the ultimate goal of more effectively linking research, policy and advocacy in the Caribbean.
 
The Carribean Impact 2.0 two-day workshop in Kingston, Jamaica 22-23 February 2011, was organised by Fundación Comunica and Panos Caribbean in collaboration with the Telecommunications Policy and Management Programme of the Mona School of Business,UWI and with the support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and led to the development of several pilot communications products:
The current Open Communications project being conducted by the Caribbean Open Institute in being managed by Panos Caribbean and involves an integrated series of mutually supportive activities designed to: 
  • build the communication capacity of research organisations participating in the Caribbean Open Institute;
  • develop a “stable” of communication experts to support research communication activities of organisations in the COI;
  • in collaboration with WFSJ, train a group of Caribbean journalists in science reporting.
It will do this by undertaking three principal activities:
A small grants programme;
  • It is expected that 10-12 small grants of up to $5,000 each (average of $4,000) will be made available on a competitive basis to Caribbean Open Institute (COI) members to support the design and implementation of communication strategies, the development of institutional communication capacity, and the production of innovative outputs such as web 2.0 applications and platforms, data visualisation strategies and audiovisual productions to link research, policy and advocacy. 
Expert seminars, recorded and made available on multimedia platforms;
  • A series of expert seminars, webinars and online materials, such as “Ted Talk” type videos, will be a key element for communication capacity building for researchers in the region. 
  • The seminars will be led by recognised experts, both international and from the Caribbean region.
Capacity building for Science and Data journalism.
  • The project will promote wider debate on research and policy linkages in Caribbean societies in the mass media, through providing support to science journalism development in collaboration with the Science Journalism Cooperation (SjCOOP) Project of the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ).