TABLE 2.

Course learning objectives

Scientific communication

All aspects of science rely on clear and compelling communication. Communication skills are not innate, but learned and honed through practice. Effective communication occurs not with delivery, but receipt of intended message. Good communication tells a story; it includes both what and why. Compelling introductions of oneself and one’s work are conversational, clear, and concise. Simplicity is powerful and is achieved by avoiding jargon and overly complex text/graphics. Scientific abstracts, talks, and manuscripts have a predefined structure.\Preparation is key to fielding questions and addressing anxiety.

Mentoring relationships

Mentoring catalyzes everyone’s advancement.Mentees must be active and deliberate in developing and driving mentorship. Mentors provide essential feedback in many areas of science career development. Awareness of communication styles facilitates mentoring and collaboration. Successfully navigating difficult conversations requires purposeful preparation.

Social identities and science

Scientific environments have their own cultures and unwritten rules. Science is no more a meritocracy than the rest of society; social factors that influence interpersonal interaction shape science. Attitudes toward feedback shape outcomes. Personal identities are complex, with many overlapping layers. Personal differences are an asset we bring to science. Understanding unconscious bias, stereotype threat, and impostor syndrome can mitigate their negative impact on performance outcomes.