Skip to content Where Legends Are Made
Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology

Podcasting for R2O: Sharing CIROH Science Beyond the Code

Podcasting for R2O: Sharing CIROH Science Beyond the Code

Day 3 Session 2 (1:30PM)

Presenters:

Brock Parker (Alabama Water Institute)
Kim Byers (Alabama Water Institute)

Podcasts have become a powerful way for researchers and developers to explain their work, share lessons learned, and connect directly with users, partners, and the public. This workshop focuses on how CIROH researchers and developers can use podcasting—and podcast-style conversations more broadly—to communicate their science clearly, accurately, and effectively.

Led by the Alabama Water Institute communications team, the session covers how to frame technical research and development efforts for audio. Participants will learn how to craft concise elevator pitches for complex work and expand those messages into longer, engaging conversations. Using real examples from AWI and CIROH podcast episodes, the workshop demonstrates how to translate technical research into plain-language explanations that resonate with non-technical audiences while maintaining scientific rigor.

Workshop Slides

Learning Outcomes:

  • Identify tools needed to create a podcast, if desired
  • Develop clear elevator pitches that explain research or tools in under one minute
  • Expand core messages into longer, engaging podcast-style discussions
  • Translate technical concepts into language accessible to general audiences
  • Prepare effective talking points for podcast interviews or hosted discussions
  • Communicate the real-world value and impact of CIROH work beyond technical documentation

Prerequisites:

  • Knowledge:
    • Participants should be actively involved in CIROH research, development, or operational efforts

Additional Notes:

This workshop supports CIROH’s research-to-operations mission by helping researchers and developers articulate the value of their work clearly and confidently to users, partners, and the public. While podcasting is the primary focus, the communication skills taught—such as message clarity, elevator pitches, and audience-aware storytelling—are broadly applicable to briefings, outreach, media interactions, and stakeholder engagement.