COVID-19 presents one of the largest science communication challenges ever, with rapidly evolving science, enormous social and economic impacts and a rising global death toll. Access to timely and trusted information is critical, and for a huge number of Australians Dr Norman Swan of the ABC has been one of the key respected journalists covering this through a range of media.

Join us for a Q&A with Dr Norman Swan to find out how he and the ABC team have been tackling the issues around communicating such a complex issue.

You can submit your questions in advance through your event registration, or submit through the zoom chat function during the session.

When: Friday 1 May, 12.45pm AEST

Where: Zoom Webinar

register at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qVEK_NP8Quu5dm3x90W0qw

*please note this event is available for current ASC members only, check your membership or sign up at http://www.asc.asn.au/join/

President’s Update

I hope everyone is going ok.  It’s a hectic time, and I am certainly finding the mix of trying to simultaneously work, parent and school from home, not the most relaxing experience, although I realise I’m very lucky to be in the position to be employed and able to work from home.  Everyone is facing their own challenges.  I don’t know who to attribute this quote to but I heard it the other day and was struck by it –  “we’re not all in the same boat, but we’re in the same storm”.   I hope that you are able to find your own moments of respite during it.

In some happier news, we had our first National Committee meeting last week, which we’ve opened up to any current ASC members to drop into to learn what’s happening across the ASC network.   Of course, people around the country are seeing how they can adapt their programs to online – whether this be quiz nights, journal clubs or science in the pubs.  ASC NSW also have their new #FromTheLab series to look out for.  I will be looking into whether there are some national online professional development opportunities we might be able to run during this time, so if you have suggestions of things you’d like to see please drop me a line at president@asc.asn.au.

 

Dr Belinda Liddell is a psychologist who’s working to understand why some refugees recover from trauma and displacement more quickly than others. She is also looking at how different cultures perceive and respond to emotions, and how this might affect the experience of trauma and stress. 

 

Why did you choose to study science?

I chose to study psychology because I was initially interested in becoming a neuropsychologist. As my degree unfolded, I realised how much I enjoyed research and I decided to do a PhD in cognitive neuroscience. That led me to a career in research, with a few twists and turns along the way.

 

Looking back now, what has been the best part of your career in SciComm?

The best part for me has been that engaging purposefully in SciComm has given me the opportunity to talk with people outside of my direct area of research, who hold different perspectives, life experiences and opinions. I find these discussions inspiring and sometimes challenging. They often spark new ideas too!

 

Where has your career led you?

I’m currently a Research Fellow in the School of Psychology at UNSW Sydney and the Deputy Director of the Refugee Trauma and Recovery Program. I’m currently working on understanding how refugee experiences – including trauma and family separation – shape how the brain functions, including in terms of emotional experiences and social interactions.

 

What excites you most about your work?

I’m excited about trying to merge using a scientific lens to study important human rights and political issue – that is forcible displacement and refugee health.  I believe that science can play an important role in informing the debate on these critical issues and deliver the evidence base needed to make informed policy and practised decisions.

 

What advice do you have for anyone considering a career in SciComm?

For researchers who might like to develop their SciComm skills, I’d suggest taking any opportunity you can to practice communicating outside of your immediate academic field. Write for different forums, for your society newsletters, for a blog, do a radio interview, e.t.c. Consider more formal training – including the ABC Top 5 program – and most universities have media and communications training for scientists if they seek it.

 

What are some of the greatest challenges that you’ve overcome in your SciComm career?  

I’d say my greatest challenge is my nerves, and I wouldn’t say I’ve overcome them! I still get pretty nervous when communicating science, but I have learned to manage this much better through practice (and making lots of mistakes!).

Why did you choose to study science communication? When I was still in high school, I was pretty convinced I was going to become an archaeologist or veterinarian. But, during grade 12 – in that pivotal year of university degree selection – I happened to take a communications course at the University of Queensland (UQ). I was completed diverted from my intended field and ended up studying all things communication for the next four years. After completing my undergraduate degree, I realised that I wanted to specialise in an area that I thought was pretty central to the way we live our lives. UQ offered a Masters in Science Communication and the rest is history.   Looking back now, what has been the best part of your career in SciComm? The best part of my career in science communication (so far) has been running communications for quantum physicists while completing my PhD at the Centre for Public Awareness of Science. It’s been an intense way to work virtually two jobs at once. It’s also helped me keep connected to the practitioner and researcher aspects of the field. Incidentally, that’s one of the best parts of science communication – the way we share information between research and practice! Where has your career led you? Working with the quantum physicists has been pretty interesting to say the least! One fascinating project was an international citizen science experiment called the Big Bell Test. We worked with research groups around the world to coordinate more than 100,000 citizen scientists in the world’s first global quantum physics experiment! What excites you most about your work? There’s an incredible amount of variety in my work, both in terms of the content you deliver and the people you work with. I enjoy working with scientists at all career stages on how they communicate their work. Working with the research centre has also been a great way to pursue something I’m passionate about which is improving diversity and inclusion in STEM (and STEM-related) fields. What advice do you have for anyone considering a career in SciComm? Familiarise yourself with the different career options available in science communication! You might be a TV presenter, a researcher, a communications manager… you might run a consultancy or work in a museum. There are a lot of options, so you need to tailor your education and growing portfolio to suit what you are interested in pursuing. Also (as Rachel Vorwerk said in her January 2020 SCOPE interview), be open to opportunities! You never know where they might take you.