The activity-based workshop, led by a theatre professional uses improvisation and free-speaking exercises as concrete tools to prepare speakers for unexpected situations that occur during online presentations, meetings and discussions. Practical techniques help participants to step out of their comfort zone and to develop their authority, focus anxiety, prepare for blackouts, technical challenges and to become more self-reliant. The training is tailored to individual participant questions and uses role-play to investigate proposed scenarios and to train coping strategies, which can be applied in virtual and non-virtual situations.

Description
The first day of the seminar begins with verbal and non-verbal communication training, connecting breathing to thinking, in order to relieve panic in stressful situations. This is followed by training with improvisation exercises to help presenters maintain their focus and composure and to cultivate quick thinking and problem solving, followed by free-speaking exercises to train quick thinking, staying focused, engaging an audience in a topic, and maintaining authority. Strategies are then discussed and practiced to deal with disruptions during the impromptu talks.

In the second session, participants will explore various challenges in meetings as well as in online Q&A sessions. Techniques are trained to handle awkward situations. Role-play situations are tailored, practiced, and discussed in the roles as presenters, meeting facilitators and Q&A moderators.

Contents in brief
- Breathing and focusing exercises for stress management
- Free-Speaking Exercises
- Improvisation Techniques for quick thinking and problem solving
- Role-play disruptions during talks, meetings, and discussions
- Tailored coaching and individual feedback

Methods
- Individual, pair and group working exercises
- Breakout room activities
- Voice and non-verbal communication coaching
- Improvisation techniques
- Role-play exercises and discussion

Since the release of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools, research institutions as well as various stakeholders such as research funders and publishers have been discussing how the use of AI in research should be dealt with from the perspective of research integrity. While a consensus on some matters was quickly reached, other issues are still being debated. This has led to a rather heterogeneous policy landscape, which will likely remain in flux due to the fast-paced nature of AI. Additionally, a recent survey by Wiley found that nearly two-thirds of respondents indicated that the lack of clear guidelines prevents them from using generative AI to the extent that they would like. Many German universities still lack AI guidelines specifically for PhD students and existing ones often remain superficial.
In this workshop, participants will learn to navigate the existing AI policy landscape so they can use genAI responsibly and in line with research integrity. The workshop has a practical bend covering how to disclose different use cases of AI in publications and what to keep in mind when it comes to working with AI in research, for example regarding peer review or using AI-generated images. Participants are welcome to bring questions and examples from their own research projects.