CREATE Grant Report: Promoting students’ health through science communication, reflections from a multi-stakeholder health communication initiative

Abstract

This project emerged from the EHPS CREATE Workshop 2023, which focused on communicating health psychology research to lay audiences. Motivated to make scientific evidence more accessible for university students, we developed a series of Instagram posts translating research into clear and engaging health tips. In collaboration with researchers from Maastricht University’s Department of Health Promotion and a communication expert from the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, we created seven posts published across multiple university communication channels. Reflections from both researchers and the communication expert highlighted the value of co-creation: while researchers ensured accuracy and evidence-based content, the communication expert optimized clarity, tone, and visual appeal. Challenges included simplifying complex findings without losing nuance and maintaining readability within strict word limits. The positive reception—high engagement, community interest, and requests for reuse—demonstrated the added value of credible, evidence-based health information on social media. This project taught us how science communication does not have to be complicated if you collaborate with the right people.