A better communicator is always a better scientist, or the reason why every PhD student should engage in science outreach

TL;DR

Engaging PhD students in science outreach enhances their communication skills, benefits their research understanding, and broadens public appreciation of science, as demonstrated through programs involving Belgian students and scientists at the South Pole.

Contribution

This paper highlights the benefits of science outreach for PhD students and presents a case study of a program involving Belgian students and scientists at the South Pole.

Findings

Outreach activities improve scientists' communication skills.

Participation broadens public understanding of science.

Engagement fosters personal growth and societal impact.

Abstract

The ability to communicate with all audiences is a skill that is rapidly becoming a must-have for any future scientist. As more physicists engage in communicating science to non-expert audiences, research shows that this experience helps them to get a better understanding of their own research and the impact on society, improves the perception of science by lay audiences and can also become an area of personal growth as a citizen. A recent deployment of a PhD student to the Amundsen Scott South Pole Station, as part of the IceCube Collaboration, provided a ready opportunity to spark interest. We present results of the efforts made by the Universit\'e libre de Bruxelles (ULB), the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Interuniversity Institute for High Energies, IIHE (ULB-VUB), to introduce Belgian students and citizens to science and the life of a scientist. The essential parts of this program will be identified to show why the contributions of a PhD student to the organization of these activities are beneficial to the development of new skills as a scientist, but also to broaden the audiences and the impact of the local university and/or the specific research outreach program.