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Let's Talk SciComm

Let's Talk SciComm

By Unimelb SciComm

Hosted by Associate Professor Jen Martin and Dr Michael Wheeler, Let’s Talk SciComm is a podcast from the University of Melbourne’s Science Communication Teaching Program. Listen for advice, tips and interviews about how to communicate science in effective and engaging ways.
Show notes, transcripts and more info: go.unimelb.edu.au/ty8e
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31. Interview with Emily King from Voices of Academia

Let's Talk SciCommSep 19, 2022

00:00
30:44
70. Interview with Dr Samantha Grover

70. Interview with Dr Samantha Grover

To finish Season 9 of Let’s Talk SciComm, we had a truly wonderful conversation with Dr Samantha Grover, who leads the Soil-Atmosphere-Anthroposphere Lab at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.

Sam’s team explores the interconnections between food, climate change and people. They collaborate with farmers, NGOs, industry, government and other researchers around the world to more sustainably manage landscapes. They focus on high carbon systems such as peatlands, regenerative agriculture and composting. As a soil scientist, Sam applies techniques from soil physics, soil chemistry and soil microbiology with micrometeorology to explore the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. She collaborates with economists, social scientists, policy analysist as well as other biological and physical scientists to generate whole-of-system knowledge. Through her teaching of Bachelors and Masters of Environmental Science, as well as her public engagement as a Superstar of STEM, President of Soil Science Australia, VIC, various Board and Committee roles and growing media profile, she communicates her research to create impact.

We talked with Sam about the many different types of science communication she’s involved with, including giving a TED talk and writing a children’s book. Sam has a wealth of scicomm experience and knowledge to share and we’re sure you’ll enjoy the conversation!

You can follow Sam and learn more about her work here:

https://www.rmit.edu.au/contact/staff-contacts/academic-staff/g/grover-dr-samantha

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-grover-169017186/

https://twitter.com/drsoilsam

https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/profile/dr-samantha-grover/

https://theleadershipfilm.org/samantha-grover/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wKA6JQQBSE (Sam’s TED talk)

https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/7464/ (Sam’s book Exploring Soils).

https://www.twma.com.au/channel/sharing-transdisciplinary-soil-stories-by-dr-samantha-grover/

Nov 27, 202331:17
69. How to be strategic when communicating science

69. How to be strategic when communicating science

This week Jen and Michael had a wonderful conversation with Professor John Besley about strategic science communication. John studies public opinion about science and scientists’ opinions about the public. His goal is to help science communicators be more effective by helping them consider evidence-based and strategic communication choices. He also does research aimed at understanding how peoples’ views about decision-makers and decision processes (i.e., trustworthiness and fairness beliefs) affect their overall perceptions of science and technology (S&T).

John has published more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. This work has appeared in high-ranking journals including Risk Analysis, Science Communication, Public Understanding of Science, and the Journal of Risk Research as well as a range of edited volumes. He has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Agriculture, and a range of foundations. He is the associate editor for risk communication for Risk Analysis.

In addition to his regular research, John was the lead author for the 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 National Science Board chapters on public attitudes and knowledge about science and technology. Michigan State University awarded John its William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award in 2021 and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) honored him as a fellow in 2018. In 2013, the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication awarded him the Hillier-Krieghbaum Under 40 Award.

You can follow John and learn more about his work here:

https://comartsci.msu.edu/our-people/john-c-besley

https://www.instagram.com/johnbesley/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-c-besley-880a468/

http://strategicsciencecommunication.com/ (John and Anthony’s book)

https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12411/strategic-science-communication

Nov 20, 202330:58
68. Interview with Jessie Panazzolo, the lonely conservationist
Nov 13, 202331:04
67. How to put Figures First!
Nov 06, 202328:02
65. How to get started in scicomm

65. How to get started in scicomm

We know many of our listeners are keen to get more experience in science communication but don’t know where to begin. Have we got the episode for you!

This week we had a fantastic chat with Dr Donovan Garcia-Ceron about how he got started in science communication and the things he’s doing to build his scicomm profile.

As you’ll hear, Donovan is kind and curious. He works in research to protect crops from pests, with the aim of increasing food security and enabling healthier communities.

He has worked in the creation of eco-friendly insecticides, and investigated how fungi “sneeze” to cause stronger infections in plants. As a research officer, Donovan now develops next-generation fungicides that can “switch off” the genes that fungi use to cause diseases, without being harmful to the environment.

During his PhD, Donovan developed an interest in science communication. He won prizes for the 3-minute Thesis and Visualise Your Thesis competitions in several years, and has been invited to write for blogs and to participate in philanthropic events to pitch science projects. He is passionate about making scientific knowledge accessible and open to anyone, and is interested in connecting with other science communicators. In his spare time, Donovan does Brazilian drumming and builds furniture using reclaimed wood (IG: @slothfurniture).

You can follow Donovan and learn more about him and his work here:

https://twitter.com/DonovanGarciaC

https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovan-garcia-ceron/

https://scholars.latrobe.edu.au/dgarciaceron

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP-DIKYgFCo (Donovan’s Visualise Your Thesis entry)

https://www.instagram.com/slothfurniture/

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/i79s

Nov 05, 202331:33
66. Interview with Professor Jo Salmon

66. Interview with Professor Jo Salmon

This week we had the great pleasure of speaking with Alfred Deakin Professor, Jo Salmon about the importance of effective science communication in research, especially when it comes to co-designed research.

Jo is the Director of the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) at Deakin University and currently holds a NHMRC Level 2 Investigator Grant. She has spent the last 20 years conducting research on the development of effective programs to promote children’s physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour. Jo has been a Chief Investigator on over 30 nationally funded research projects and 14 international projects worth more than $28.8 million and has supervised 26 PhD students to completion and 14 postdoctoral fellows. She has published her research extensively with over 450 peer reviewed papers and book chapters, and for the past 7 years has been named a Clarivate Highly Cited researcher, which ranks her in the 1% most cited authors in the world for her subject field. Jo is the past President and a Fellow of the International Society for Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, and the founding current President of the Asia Pacific Society for Physical Activity (ASPA). She also played a key role in development of movement guidelines for youth in Australia (2004; 2008; 2014).

You can follow Jo and learn more about her work here:

https://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/people/jo-salmon

https://twitter.com/profjsalmon

https://aspactivity.org/news/iwd-2023-profjosalmon/

https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/news-centre/improving-health-and-wellbeing-children-making-it-easy-be-active-throughout-day

Oct 30, 202331:29
63. How to ask good questions with Dr Shane Huntington OAM

63. How to ask good questions with Dr Shane Huntington OAM

Welcome to Season Nine of Let’s Talk SciComm! We’re thrilled to be back with another season, chatting each week about our very favourite topic – how we can all be more effective when it comes to communicating about science.

We’re kicking off the season talking with our good friend Dr Shane Huntington OAM (@DrShaneRRR) – in case you haven’t listened yet, you can get to know Shane on episode 9 of Let’s Talk SciComm! Shane is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Little Big Steps; a charity helping kids with cancer.  

Shane is also a speaker, trainer and facilitator. He has been providing consulting services in communication and strategy for over 25 years and is the host and producer of 3RRR’s science radio program Einstein A Go Go. In 2020 he was awarded an Order of Australia in recognition of his science communication work.

In this episode we asked Shane to share his advice on how to ask good questions. Whether you’re going to a conference or interviewing someone about their work, being able to ask interesting, thoughtful questions is an important skill. And given Shane has interviewed thousands of scientists over the past 30 years on radio, he’s a great person to get advice from!

Shane is also a prolific writer with articles on Medium.com read more than 100,000 times. He is the Founder and Director of the Innovation Group Pty Ltd, a scientific equipment supplier in Australia and New Zealand since 1999 and is a Senior Associate with consulting firm Outside Opinion.  

Until January 2019 he was Deputy Director of the Melbourne Academic Centre for Health (MACH) which he established in 2011. Prior to his work in the Faculty of Medicine, he was Principal Strategy Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor of The University of Melbourne, Prof. Glyn Davis.  

From 2005 to 2008 he was the CEO and Founder of Quantum Communications Victoria within the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne. Quantum Communications Victoria was a $9.3Million Government funded centre which developed telecommunications security based on Quantum Physics and exported Australia’s first quantum product. 

Shane’s specialty was in Photonics and Imaging and he has published more than 75 refereed journal papers during his 10 years in research.  

Shane was the Founder of the Telescopes in Schools Program, a Victorian based initiative designed to bring the wonders of Astronomy and education to low SES schools in Melbourne’s Northern and Western suburbs and rural districts through the prevision of research grade telescopes and support.  

He holds an honorary appointment at the University of Melbourne in the School of Engineering and is an Ambassador for the Lost Dogs Home. 

You can follow Shane and learn more about his work here:

https://shanehuntington.com/

https://twitter.com/DrShaneRRR

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-shane-huntington-oam-684894/

https://littlebigsteps.org.au/about-2/our-who/our-team/

https://www.outsideopinion.com.au/team/shane-huntington

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/gi9s

Oct 23, 202331:34
64. Interview with Olly Dove from That's What I Call Science
Oct 23, 202331:45
56. Interview with Zoos Victoria CEO Dr Jenny Gray
Oct 22, 202334:52
62. Interview with nutrition misinformation expert Emily Denniss
Aug 28, 202331:19
61. How to be a confident networker
Aug 21, 202333:44
60. How to write an excellent CV and job application

60. How to write an excellent CV and job application

This week we were thrilled Executive Recruiter and Scientist Marilyn Jones was able to make time to chat with us. Marilyn has over 25 years’ experience in resourcing staff for companies and assisting individuals with their career aspirations and we learned so much from her about how to get your dream job.

Marilyn undertook research in cancer and immunology, leading to managing an R&D project for the commercialisation of the purified components of snake venom for human therapeutic purposes. Combined with additional commercialisation projects in wheat identification and infectious diseases, she gained a comprehensive understanding of the diagnostics and drug development sectors.

After a period of selling complex scientific instrumentation systems into the Pharmaceutical, Research, Pathology, Analytical and Manufacturing sectors, she made the fortuitous move into Recruitment. Working for both boutique and multinational recruitment organisations, Marilyn has worked across many industry and business sectors. She particularly enjoys the challenge of ‘The Search’ for hard-to-fill senior roles.

Marilyn’s focus in starting her company in 2011 was to look after the individual. This has developed into an extensive program – mexec jobstrategy™ working with candidates in many industries to assist them on one on one in their career aspirations and job search strategy. mexec Executive Search Recruitment division assists start-ups to multinational companies with their HR and recruitment requirements from graduate to Board level.

You can follow Marilyn and learn more about her work here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilynmexec/

https://www.mexec.com/about-us/

https://www.mexec.com/13-day-jobs-of-marilyn/

https://www.stemwomen.org.au/profile/marilyn-jones

https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2019/08/call-me-why-recruiters-want-you-to-pick-up-the-phone/

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/q9ys

Aug 14, 202332:42
59. How to present science concisely

59. How to present science concisely

This week we had a wonderful conversation with Dr. Bruce Kirchoff who is a scientist, improviser, and storyteller. He teaches young scientists to speak clearly and intelligibly about their research. His book Presenting Science Concisely (https://presentingscienceconcisely.com/book) draws on the relation between the scientific process and story structure to present science with impact.  

Bruce is also Emeritus Professor of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he taught courses in plant diversity, flowering plant identification, and evolution. His research combined insights from biology and cognitive psychology to improve the reliability of plant description and classification. As a software designer he developed visual, active learning software to rapidly teach plant identification, and chemical structures. He has won the UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Charles Edwin Bessey Teaching Award from the Botanical Society of America, and the Innovations in Plant Systematics Education Prize from the American Society of Plant Taxonomists. He has studied scientific communication at the Alan Alda Center for Scientific Communication and teaches it through the UNC Greensboro Speaking Center, where he is a Faculty Fellow. He also teaches workshops in storytelling and improv and, before his retirement, was the faculty advisor for the UNCG student improv club.

You can follow Bruce and learn more about his work here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucekirchoff/

https://twitter.com/1andOnlyBruce

https://www.youtube.com/@sci-comm (Bruce’s YouTube channel)

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/s8ys

Aug 07, 202333:36
58. How to find a fantastic research supervisor (and work well with them)

58. How to find a fantastic research supervisor (and work well with them)

This week we were so lucky to have the opportunity to chat with Professor David Dunstan about being a research supervisor. David holds a joint appointment at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia with the positions of: Head – Baker/Deakin Department of Lifestyle and Diabetes and Chair, Lifestyle and Diabetes (Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin); and Deputy Director/Physical Activity Laboratory Head (Baker).

His research focuses on understanding the adverse health consequences of too much sitting and the potential health benefits resulting from frequently breaking up sitting time. In particular, he has developed effective strategies to reduce and break up sitting time in adults with or at risk of developing chronic diseases and to support office workers to reduce sedentary behaviour in workplace settings. His current focus is directed at understanding how best to implement efficacious ‘sit less and move more’ interventions at scale within the healthcare setting for those living with chronic diseases and elucidating the effects of sedentary behaviour on brain health. Relevant to our conversation, David has supervised many, many thriving and successful research students and has lots of excellent advice to share.

You can follow David and learn more about his work here:

https://baker.edu.au/research/staff/david-dunstan

https://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/people/david-dunstan

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-dunstan-07777a3/

https://twitter.com/DavidWDunstan

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/u24s

Jul 31, 202328:35
57. Interview with science journalist Belinda Smith
Jul 24, 202331:19
55. How to get kids excited about science
Jul 10, 202330:28
54. Top 6 ‘How to’ episodes: How to get your thesis written

54. Top 6 ‘How to’ episodes: How to get your thesis written

It’s the end of another season of Let’s Talk SciComm and it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. It’s the end of our countdown of our most popular how-to episodes and coming in at number one is…… How to get your thesis written.

Writing a thesis is hard! It’s probably the longest document you’ve ever had to write, and the experience is often accompanied by a tendency to procrastinate and feelings of overwhelm and imposterism.

This episode will help! Jen and Michael briefly talk about their thesis writing experiences and share their top tips. But most of the episode is filled with advice and tips from eight of our UniMelb SciComm alumni who have recently written theses. They’ve been right where you are now and have so much wisdom to share!

We’re thrilled that our most popular episode ever is one which comprises mostly of advice from members of our fabulous alumni. If you’re currently writing or are soon to write a thesis (or know someone who is), please listen and share!

In this episode you’ll hear from Nancy Rivers Tran, Owen Missen, Samantha Ward, Xavier Busuttil-Crellin, Kade Huckstep, Adam Hagg, Emily McColl-Gausden and Lachlan Tegart.

Plus here are a couple of resources to help you:

How to write a Better Thesis by David Evans, Justin Zobel and Paul Gruba.

Explorations of Style - A brilliant blog about academic writing. Start by checking out their "How to use this blog" page to get an idea of what articles they have to offer.

The Thesis Whisperer - Another fantastic blog worth following - full of honest, upfront advice about so many different aspects of being a researcher.

Patter - Another great blog about academic writing.

DoctoralWriting SIG - Very useful blog covering lots of interesting and relevant topics, with an entire category dedicated to thesis writing.

We’re going to take a little break now while Michael has the joy of welcoming a new baby to the family.

But we’ll be back with Season 8 in July and have some fabulous episodes coming your way, including interviews with Zoos Victoria CEO Jenny Gray and science communicator extraordinaire Rachel Nowak. We’ll also be talking about how to network effectively (and enjoy it!), how to write online science stories, how to get kids excited about science, how to find a great PHD supervisor and to work well with them, how to write a great CV and job application and how to present science concisely.

Thanks so much for listening, Jen and Michael

Jun 05, 202327:58
53. Top 6 ‘Best of’ episodes: How to improve your science writing

53. Top 6 ‘Best of’ episodes: How to improve your science writing

We’re continuing our countdown of our most listened-to episodes and this week we’ve made it to number two. It came as no surprise to us that science writing is a topic so many of our listeners want to learn more about – being able to write clearly is such an essential skill!

In 2014, Steven Pinker published a piece in The Chronicle of Higher Education titled ‘Why academic writing stinks’. While we might take offence at the notion that our writing ‘stinks’, there’s no question that the way many of us have been taught to write as researchers and scientists can be difficult for our readers to make sense of. In this episode, Michael and Jen revisit our conversation about why science writing can be so hard to read. They talk about a number of different approaches to improve the clarity and readability of our writing and chat about the style of writing that is most effective for communicating about science with non-scientific audiences.

Listen for our thoughts and advice on how to improve your writing plus tips from two of our UniMelb SciComm students, Randy Mann and Steven Tang.

Here are the papers we mentioned in the podcast:

Medical Obfuscation: Structure and Function. It’s really worth reading this short but pointed piece by Michael Crichton published back in 1975.

Specialized terminology reduces the number of citations of scientific papers. Research to suggest that if we want other scientists to cite our work, we should be avoiding using jargon – especially in the title and abstract.

UN climate reports are increasingly unreadable. Jeff Tollefson’s research into the readability of ICC climate reports.

The readability of scientific texts is decreasing over time. More research highlighting that science writing is getting harder to read. And this has important implications for research reproducibility.

The growth of acronyms in the scientific literature. Research into the staggering increase in the use of acronyms in science papers since 1950.

And if you’re looking for some great science to read, some of our favourites are Belinda Smith, Dyani Lewis, Ed Yong and Carl Zimmer.

May 29, 202336:52
52. Top 6 ‘Best of’ episodes: How to NOT be boring
May 22, 202331:09
51. Top 6 ‘Best of’ episodes: How to tackle imposter syndrome

51. Top 6 ‘Best of’ episodes: How to tackle imposter syndrome

This is Season 7 and we’re excited to be revisiting our 6 most listened-to episodes. Each episode has a new introduction in which Jen and Michael chat about why we think the topic resonated so much with our listeners and what we’ve learned about the topic since it was first published.

Coming in at number 4 is ‘How to tackle imposter syndrome’.

On the outside you appear confident, composed and on top of your game. But on the inside, you are wracked with self-doubt. You feel like a fraud and as though someone is about to tap you on the shoulder and ask you what you think you’re doing. You’re sure you’re not good enough, experienced enough or smart enough to be doing what you’re doing.

This week Jen and Michael chat about the Imposter Experience, better known as the Imposter Syndrome. Listen for our thoughts and advice on how to tackle feeling like an imposter plus tips from two of our UniMelb SciComm students, Stephanie Wong and Charlie Pattinson.

Here are a few good reads to help build your understanding of imposter syndrome and how to tackle it:

Imposters are us - feeling like you aren't good enough? Guess what! You're not the only one. This is Jen's take on imposter syndrome.

If You Struggle With Imposter Syndrome, Scientists Might Have an Odd Solution - an important tip to help you overcome imposter syndrome.

‘I’m not worthy!’ – Imposter Syndrome in Academia - reasons why we feel imposter syndrome in academia, and how to deal with it.

How I overcame impostor syndrome after leaving academia - advice on tackling the voices in your head telling you that you aren't good enough so that they don't sabotage your career.

Feel like an academic fraud? Tips for shaking off imposter syndrome - some great tips on how to manage the feelings of imposter syndrome.

Four tips to ward off imposter syndrome - four straightforward ways to silence your inner critic.

May 15, 202331:37
50. Top 6 ‘Best of’ episodes: How to give a better science talk

50. Top 6 ‘Best of’ episodes: How to give a better science talk

We’re very excited to hit episode 50 today!! This is Season 7 and for something a bit different, we’re excited to be revisiting our 6 most listened-to episodes. Each episode has a new introduction in which Jen and Michael reflect on why the topic resonated so much with our listeners and what we’ve learned about the topic in the interim.

Coming in at number 5 is ‘How to give a better science talk’.

All scientists need to give talks but being able to give a brilliant talk takes skill. Are you wondering how to best keep your audience’s attention? How to explain your work clearly and concisely and in a way that will make sense to your audience? How to design slides that enhance, rather than distract from what you’re saying? And how to tackle your inevitable nerves?

Listen for our thoughts and advice on how to plan, design and deliver a fantastic talk plus tips from two of our UniMelb SciComm alumni, Randy Mann and Stephanie Wong (who is also one half of our brilliant production team!)

Here are a few good reads to help next time you’re preparing a talk:

Reframing stress - stage fright can be your friend . Very nervous about speaking in public? You're not alone, and there are ways to harness that fear to your advantage.

Get Excited: Reappraising Pre-Performance Anxiety as Excitement  This paper talks more about reframing anxiety by taking stress and turning it into excitement. We actually use the tip "say I am excited out loud" all the time and it works!

Use PowerPoint as a Tool, don’t be a Tool for PowerPoint  PowerPoint is full of pitfalls. How many slides are too many? What should your slides have on them? How do you use the slides in your talk? This article answers all that and more.

How to avoid death By PowerPoint | David JP Phillips | TEDxStockholmSalon A TED talk that’s worth your time – it includes plenty of excellent advice on how to use slides more effectively.

May 08, 202338:50
49. Top 6 ‘Best of’ episodes: How to tackle procrastination

49. Top 6 ‘Best of’ episodes: How to tackle procrastination

Welcome to Season 7: for something a bit different, we’re excited to be revisiting our 6 most listened-to episodes. Each episode has a new introduction in which Jen and Michael reflect on why the topic resonated so much with our listeners and what we’ve learned about the topic in the interim.

Coming in at number 6 is ‘How to tackle procrastination’. It comes as no surprise that many of us want advice on how to procrastinate less! It’s one of the biggest challenges many of us come up against in our day-to-day work. And it can certainly be a major barrier to effective science communication. Whether you’re trying to write a thesis, an assignment or a blog post, chances are you’ve found yourself delaying getting started.

We share our experiences of procrastination and evidence-based advice on how to stop. Two of our wonderful UniMelbSciComm alumni, Caitlin Minney and Lily Ahlemeyer also share their experiences and advice.

Here are some useful resources to support you in tackling procrastination:

Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator - Tim Urban’s TED talk

James Clear’s Atomic Habits – a book well worth reading

James Clear’s 3-2-1 newsletter - which we also mention in the podcast

Why You Procrastinate (It Has Nothing to Do With Self-Control) - if procrastination isn't about laziness, then what is it about? Hint: it's more linked to you emotions and moods!

Why we procrastinate – Jen’s take on why we procrastinate, with tips on how we can stop procrastinating and start working

The Procrastination Doom Loop—and How to Break It - what it means to be caught in the procrastination loop, and how to get out of it

Why Procrastinators Procrastinate - a look into the procrastinator's brain

5 Types of Procrastination (And How To Fix Each of Them) - procrastination can look different depending on what type of procrastinator you are. Figuring out which type you are will help you beat your procrastination!

Plus a couple of tools we use to help beat procrastination:

Forest App – focusing on your work helps you build a virtual forest

Write or Die - an online word processor that forces you to write... or else suffer the consequences you choose - from spiders crawling across your screen, to your words erasing themselves

Cold Turkey Writer - this turns your computer into a typewriter - so you can't use it for anything other than writing. Great if you struggle with distractions!

toggl - a productivity and time tracker that might help you keep an eye on how you spend your time

May 01, 202335:45
48. How to manage public speaking nerves
Mar 27, 202331:00
47. How to communicate about controversial topics (like aliens)
Mar 20, 202330:33
46. How to communicate about your work with industry

46. How to communicate about your work with industry

This week we had the great pleasure of talking with Dr Josh Chu-Tan who until very recently was the Business Development Manager for the College of Health and Medicine (CHM) based in the ANU Office of Business Engagement and Commercialisation as well as a Research Fellow at JCSMR with the Clear Vision Research Group. Josh completed his PhD in 2019 and was hired as a postdoc and lecturer in Medical Physiology by the ANU Medical School. Since his PhD, he has published 16 papers with 6 as first author and won an NHMRC Ideas Grant as a CI. Josh then moved onto a more industry-facing role at the start of 2022 as the Business Development Manager for CHM allowing him to foster industry relationships and create partnerships and commercialisation opportunities from academic research. Josh has won a number of awards throughout his research career. In 2016, he won the ANU 3MT and went on to also win the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition which allowed him to travel to Berlin for the Falling Walls Finale where he was finalist for Young Innovator of the Year. In 2019, Josh was invited to give a TEDx talk at TEDxChristchurch that later was chosen to be a global featured TED talk with over 1.7 million views now. He was one of the ABC Top 5 in Science in 2021 and was an ACT Tall Poppy Award winner for 2022. You can follow Josh and learn more about his work here:

twitter.com/joshchutan
services.anu.edu.au/education-support/academic-development/nectar-mentoring-program/dr-joshua-chu-tan
www.linkedin.com/in/joshuachutan/
www.clearvisionresearch.com/joshua-chu-tan
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOurql_a-4g (Josh’s TEDx talk)

Transcript: go.unimelb.edu.au/6xrs
Mar 13, 202330:50
45. How to communicate about science with high school students
Mar 06, 202329:23
44. Interview with visual science communicator Dr Tullio Rossi
Feb 27, 202329:09
43. Interview with science educator Dr Jarrod McKenna
Feb 20, 202329:10
42. Interview with environmentalist and author Andrew Kelly
Feb 13, 202331:11
41. Interview with physicist, author and science communicator, Associate Professor Suzie Sheehy

41. Interview with physicist, author and science communicator, Associate Professor Suzie Sheehy

Happy New Year and welcome to another season of Let’s Talk SciComm! We’re excited to be back for another year of podcasting about our very favourite topic – science communication. And we’re launching Season Six with a bang, talking with Associate Professor Suzie Sheehy.

Suzie is an accelerator physicist who specialises in novel particle accelerators and beam dynamics, with a current focus on medical applications. Her research at The University of Melbourne investigates novel particle therapy accelerators and beam delivery systems, compact linear electron accelerators (X-band) and improving accelerator reliability in Low and Middle-Income countries (STELLA project) to address global health challenges. She also retains an active research role at the University of Oxford, where she is now Visiting Lecturer, focusing on intense hadron beams. She has held prestigious research fellowships from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 (Brunel Fellowship 2010-2013) and the Royal Society (University Research Fellowship, 2017-2022).

Suzie is also an award-winning public speaker and science communicator, dedicated to sharing science beyond the academic community. Her 2018 TED talk on ‘The Case for Curiosity Driven Research’ has been viewed around 2 million times, and her first popular science book ‘The Matter of Everything: Twelve Experiments that Changed Our World’, is published worldwide with 11 translations and selected as Times and Sunday Times Best Books of 2022 and Waterstones Best Books of 2022.

You can follow Suzie and learn more about her work here:

https://www.suziesheehy.com/ (you can order Suzie’s book under the ‘book’ tab)
https://twitter.com/suziesheehy
https://www.instagram.com/drsuziesheehy/
https://au.linkedin.com/in/drsuziesheehy
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/apr/16/dr-suzie-sheehy-the-eureka-moment-may-come-once-in-your-career-or-never
https://www.ted.com/talks/suzie_sheehy_the_case_for_curiosity_driven_research

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/ix6s

Feb 06, 202331:03
40. Interview with speaker, author and performance coach, Christine Burns
Dec 19, 202230:29
39. Interview with Austrian exchange student Isolde Gottwald

39. Interview with Austrian exchange student Isolde Gottwald

This week we absolutely loved talking with Isolde Gottwald (AKA Issie), an exchange student from the University of Vienna who spent semester 2 this year studying with us at the University of Melbourne. Listen to the podcast to hear how we got to know Issie!

Within her degree, Issie is particularly interested in environmental psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Out of her deep curiosity for science and the practice of science, she worked as a student assistant and intern at various research institutions. That’s when she discovered her passion for science communication, which led her to work at Wissenschaft im Dialog, the German National Organisation for Science Communication in 2021. The planned two-month internship turned into nine months of her working as a student on several different projects. She was primarily involved in planning and organising a public participation initiative that aimed to achieve greater public engagement in science and research activities in Germany. In addition, she had the chance to work as a moderator for the project “I’m a Scientist - get me out of here”, an online platform that allows students to have a direct and low-threshold exchanges with scientists. She was also involved in the jury for the project “Hochschulwettbewerb” - a competition inviting students, postdocs and young researchers from all disciplines to submit creative and interactive project ideas about projects that actively involve the public in their research and build trust and bridges between society and science. Isolde is particularly interested in climate change communication which combines both her interests for science communication and climate psychology. Besides her studies, Isolde is an enthusiastic skier, nature lover and mountain climber.

You can follow Issie and learn more about her work here:

https://twitter.com/isoldegottwald
https://www.linkedin.com/in/isolde-gottwald-04233b205/
https://soundcloud.com/user-8476070/communicating-science-aufraumen-mit-schlaf-mythen
https://www.wissenschaftsjahr.de/2022/
https://www.die-debatte.org/kinderarmut-gesellschaft/
https://imascientist.de
https://www.hochschulwettbewerb.net/2022/

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/f43e

Dec 12, 202227:31
38. Interview with ARC Future Fellow Professor Natalie Hannan

38. Interview with ARC Future Fellow Professor Natalie Hannan

This week we had the enormous pleasure of speaking with the one-and-only Professor Natalie Hannan. Natalie is an ARC Future Fellow, the Associate Dean, Diversity and Inclusion in the Faculty Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and leads the Therapeutics Discovery and Vascular Function in Pregnancy Group, in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, at the University of Melbourne. She is passionate about developing new approaches to combat major complication of pregnancy, especially preeclampsia.

Natalie’s research has been recognised by the award of continuous funding support through eminent Fellowships and research grants, with over $9 Million awarded to date, to undertake important research to improve the health of women and infants. Natalie has a strong research profile with over 135 peer-reviewed publications in international journals. She is also the President of the Australian New Zealand Placental Research Association (ANZPRA), and an executive member on The International Federation of Placental Associations (IFPA) and Society of Obstetric Medicine Australia and New Zealand executive committees. She also serves as Associate Editor on the journal Reproduction, and serves on the Executive steering committee for the Graeme Clark Institute at the University of Melbourne.

She is well known for her engagement and passion to communicate on equity issues, as well as her medical research to the public. In recognition of her public engagement and communication skills she was awarded a Young Tall Poppy award and was selected as an Australian Fresh Scientist.

Natalie is a staunch ambassador for Women in STEM and is involved in initiatives to reduce the gender inequity in STEM. In 2016 she was awarded an inaugural VESKI Inspiring Women Fellowship. She is deeply committed to equity and advocacy for all people, their purpose, and for medicine and science. Natalie believes strongly in a diverse and discrimination free workplace, where gender, sexuality and sexual orientation, disability and an individual’s background should not be a barrier to reaching their full potential.

You can find out more about Natalie and her work here:

https://twitter.com/DrNatHannan
https://twitter.com/TDVFGroup
https://linkedin.com/in/natalie-hannan-6ab6551a0
https://mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/diversity-and-inclusion
https://mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/diversity-and-inclusion/swim-supporting-women-in-mdhs
https://medicine.unimelb.edu.au/research-groups/obstetrics-and-gynaecology-research/therapeutics-discovery-and-vascular-function-group

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/6ude

Dec 05, 202230:15
37. Interview with writing coach Dr Malini Devadas
Nov 28, 202227:32
36. Interview with immunologist Dr Kylie Quinn
Nov 21, 202229:03
35. Interview with physical activity and mental health researchers Associate Professor Megan Teychenne and Dr Niamh Mundell

35. Interview with physical activity and mental health researchers Associate Professor Megan Teychenne and Dr Niamh Mundell

This week we loved chatting with two more researchers from Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN): Associate Professor Megan Teychenne and Dr Niamh Mundell.

Megan’s PhD is in Behavioural Epidemiology and she’s currently an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at IPAN. For more than 15 years Megan has investigated the role of health-related behaviours (e.g. physical activity, sedentary behaviour) in the prevention and treatment of mental health conditions (particularly depression and anxiety), with a focus on vulnerable population groups including socioeconomically disadvantaged populations and women (pregnant and postpartum). She has played a pivotal role in advancing knowledge of the field, with her research cited in several international evidence briefings (e.g. British Heart Foundation, The World Health Organisation), and in her role as associate editor for the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity. Megan actively contributes to raising public awareness about the importance of physical activity for improving mental health, having been a guest on several national radio and TV programs, as well as her research being profiled in several hundreds of popular media articles worldwide.

Niamh Mundell is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Exercise Physiology within Deakin University’s School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences. She is also a Non-Executive Director at Exercise and Sports Science Australia and practices as an accredited exercise physiologist. She has a PhD in the field of exercise for cognition during ageing and cancer survival, (Deakin University) and Master of Exercise Physiology (Victoria University, Australia). Her research primarily focuses on exercise physiology, with interests in mental and cognitive health during ageing and chronic disease and improving the exercise physiology industry for clinicians and patients. Niamh’s research integrates clinical exercise physiology skills and experience to focus on improving the way clinical outcomes are captured and the optimal modes of delivery to support value-based care in clinical exercise physiology practice.

You call follow Megan and Niamh and find out more about their work here:

https://twitter.com/meganteychenne
https://twitter.com/NiamhMundell
https://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/people/megan-teychenne<
https://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/people/niamh-mundell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-teychenne-38a1a756/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/niamh-mundell-124a8935/
The exercise that best supports your mental health (smh.com.au)

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/w5me

Nov 14, 202230:00
34. Interview with nutrition and mental health researchers Dr Helen Macpherson and Sara Dingle

34. Interview with nutrition and mental health researchers Dr Helen Macpherson and Sara Dingle

This week we’re so pleased to have had the opportunity to talk with Deakin University researchers Dr Helen Macpherson and Sara Dingle about a topic we’re fascinated by: the intersection of mental health and nutrition.

Helen is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), at Deakin where she co-leads the Exercise and Nutrition for Brain Health group. She has a background in cognitive neuroscience and completed her postdoctoral training at Swinburne University, Australia. Helen is the recipient of a National Health and Medical Research Council and Australian Research Council Dementia Training fellowship. Her work examines the potential for modifiable lifestyle factors to optimise cognition and brain health in older people at risk of dementia. She has extensive experience conducting randomised controlled trials investigating the impact of diet and physical activity on cognition, neuroimaging markers of brain health and dementia risk factors. She has worked with large scale population data sets including the UK biobank to examine nutritional determinants of brain health.

Helen supervises a range of PhD students looking at the links between healthy ageing, lifestyle factors, cognition and mental health. And one of her PhD students is Sara Dingle!

Sara is in the final stages of her candidature exploring the association between lifestyle patterns and brain health in adults. Prior to her PhD she completed a Bachelor of Science (majoring in Physiology) at The University of Melbourne, followed by a Master of Human Nutrition at Deakin. Alongside her PhD research, Sara is also actively engaged in teaching across the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at Deakin, and has been involved as a research assistant in large-scale Deakin-based projects (Transform-Us! and Healthy Together Children’s Evaluation Study). Sara endeavours to pursue a career in academia post-PhD, continuing her passion for teaching and research in the space of lifestyle behaviours and important health outcomes such as reducing risk for dementia. Sara is also actively engaged in communicating the findings of her research through conference presentations, short-form presentations such as the three-minute-thesis competition, and any other opportunities that present themselves. Sara’s interest in all things healthy lifestyle also extends beyond her professional life, being heavily involved in surf boat rowing through Surf Life Saving Victoria and having a passion for running; along with sharing her passion for healthy eating and cooking with her husband and 2-year-old (or at least attempting in the case of the toddler!)

You call follow Helen and Sara and find out more about their work here:

https://twitter.com/DrHelen_Mac
https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenmacpherson/
https://twitter.com/dingle_sara
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-dingle-525149108/
https://www.inbloombrainhealth.com/
https://discrimination.dementia.org.au/resources/braintrack-app/

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/ww4e

Nov 07, 202228:05
33. Interview with visual communicator Dr Sue Pillans

33. Interview with visual communicator Dr Sue Pillans

Welcome back to season 5 of Let’s Talk SciComm! We’re thrilled to be sharing another season of great episodes with you and we know you’re going to love this first episode with the one-and-only Sue Pillans.
Sue is a marine scientist, artist, children’s author/illustrator and graphic recorder who specialises in creative and visual communications. As a graphic recorder Sue draws out ideas with people, teams and organisations to visually capture and convey discussions, information and concepts. She uses the art and science of visual storytelling to help make the complex simple and the simple compelling.
Sue has a diverse background starting with her PhD in marine science which looked at assessing the effectiveness of no-take marine reserves in subtropical Queensland. She then went onto a career in the Queensland Government working across multiple Departments including environment, fisheries, aquaculture and reef policy and leading the strategic policy and planning of several portfolios including regional development, transport and agriculture industry development.
Until seven years ago Sue didn’t know her job as a graphic recorder even existed and since then, through visual communications business, she has worked with over 50 organisations across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region to help “picture your ideas”. Sue also combines her love of marine science and art through her alter ego Dr Suzie Starfish to bring creativity into classrooms and her series of ocean picture books. Her creative thinking style helps to make learning visual and fun for children of all ages, with messages of science, solutions and hope that we can all be the change we want to ’sea’ in the world.
You call follow Sue and find out more about her work here:
www.drsuepillans.com
twitter.com/suepillans
www.instagram.com/suepillans
www.facebook.com/drsuziestarfish
www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sue-pillans-571a95a5
www.youtube.com/channel/UCX3lbJEMpJagTnj7HOWCFew
Transcript: go.unimelb.edu.au/jt4e
Oct 31, 202232:36
32. How to look after your mental health with Psychiatrist Professor Sandra Radovini
Sep 26, 202237:14
31. Interview with Emily King from Voices of Academia

31. Interview with Emily King from Voices of Academia

This week it was our huge pleasure to speak with Emily King, currently undertaking her PhD at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne. Her current project investigates whether insulin resistance develops as a result of mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle, using both mouse models and cell lines. The projected impact of these studies is to determine whether related conditions, such as Type 2 Diabetes, can be managed with novel, muscle-specific therapies.

Emily is a passionate educator, holding sessional roles as a Graduate Teaching Associate within the Faculty of Science at Monash University. Emily also produces the podcast Voices of Academia (https://anchor.fm/academicvoices), a really important project that we discussed at length.

Emily has won numerous awards & scholarships based on her communication and as you’ll hear, she’s a very gifted storyteller. She’s also volunteered for various forms of science communication/educational writing including grant writing for The National Stroke Foundation, blog writing for Franklin women, and public speaking for a Women in Science forum.

You can follow Emily and find out more about her work here:
https://twitter.com/EKing_Sci
http://www.lateralmag.com/articles/issue-30/a-partner-for-life
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-king-8815a843/
https://baker.edu.au/research/staff/emily-jane-king

Here are other accounts we mentioned in the podcast:

Co-founder of Voices of Academia Dr Zoë Ayres: https://twitter.com/ZJAyres
Voices of Academia Podcast: https://twitter.com/academicvoices
https://twitter.com/PhD_Balance
https://twitter.com/DragonflyMH

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/7c2e

Sep 19, 202230:44
30. Interview with climate scientist Professor David Karoly (Part 2)

30. Interview with climate scientist Professor David Karoly (Part 2)

What better way to celebrate the 30th episode of Let’s Talk SciComm than continue our conversation with world-renowned climate scientist and climate science communicator, Professor David Karoly. This is part 2 of our conversation with David, so if you haven’t listened to last week’s episode, please go back and do that first!

David is an honorary Professor at the University of Melbourne having retired in February 2022 from CSIRO in Australia, where he was a Chief Research Scientist in the CSIRO Climate Science Centre. He is an internationally recognised expert on climate change and climate variability.

Professor Karoly was the Leader of the Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub in the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program, based in CSIRO, from 2018 until the Hub closed at the end of June 2021.

He was a member of the National Climate Science Advisory Committee during 2018-19. During 2012-2017, he was a member of the Climate Change Authority, which provides advice to the Australian government on responding to climate change, including targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

He was involved in the Assessment Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2001, 2007, 2014 and 2021 in several different roles. He is also a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists. He was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 2019. He was awarded the 2015 Royal Society of Victoria Medal for Scientific Excellence in Earth Sciences. From 2007 to February 2018, David Karoly was Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Melbourne and in the A.R.C. Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science.

You can learn more about David here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Karoly
https://www.science.org.au/profile/david-karoly
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-karoly-768a1b22/
https://www.thecitizen.org.au/articles/veteran-of-climate-wars-still-fighting-for-a-habitable-planet-and-for-science
https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/lessons-in-hyperbolic-gestures/9974284
https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/professor-david-karoly-morrison-government-climate-inaction/

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/qy2e

Sep 12, 202230:34
29. Interview with climate scientist Professor David Karoly (Part 1)

29. Interview with climate scientist Professor David Karoly (Part 1)

This week it was our absolute honour to speak with Professor David Karoly, world-renowned climate scientist and climate science communicator. David is an honorary Professor at the University of Melbourne having retired in February 2022 from CSIRO in Australia, where he was a Chief Research Scientist in the CSIRO Climate Science Centre. He is an internationally recognised expert on climate change and climate variability.

Professor Karoly was the Leader of the Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub in the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program, based in CSIRO, from 2018 until the Hub closed at the end of June 2021.

He was a member of the National Climate Science Advisory Committee during 2018-19. During 2012-2017, he was a member of the Climate Change Authority, which provides advice to the Australian government on responding to climate change, including targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

He was involved in the Assessment Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2001, 2007, 2014 and 2021 in several different roles. He is also a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists. He was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 2019. He was awarded the 2015 Royal Society of Victoria Medal for Scientific Excellence in Earth Sciences. From 2007 to February 2018, David Karoly was Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Melbourne and in the A.R.C. Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science.

We had such a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation with David that we’ve split our conversation across two episodes. Stay tuned for Part 2 next Tuesday!

You can learn more about David here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Karoly
https://www.science.org.au/profile/david-karoly
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-karoly-768a1b22/
https://www.thecitizen.org.au/articles/veteran-of-climate-wars-still-fighting-for-a-habitable-planet-and-for-science
https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/lessons-in-hyperbolic-gestures/9974284
https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/professor-david-karoly-morrison-government-climate-inaction/

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/5p2e

Sep 05, 202230:28
28. How to get the most out of attending a conference

28. How to get the most out of attending a conference

Whether virtual or in person, conferences are without question one of the best ways to meet people and hear about new work in your field. Amongst other things, they can also be fantastic places to find jobs, collaborators, and thesis examiners. But to get the most out of attending a conference, it really pays to prepare before you go, to be brave once you get there and then do some follow-ups afterwards.

This week Michael and Jen chat with our wonderful colleague Dr Linden Ashcroft about our strategies for getting the most out of attending a conference, particularly when it comes to networking, which can be challenging for all of us.

Here are a few good reads for more advice on networking at conferences:

Introvert’s guide to conference networking - how to get the most out of conference working whilst preserving your social energy

How to get the most out of attending conferences - an article that talks about why conferences are important, how to pick which ones to go to, mistakes to avoid and how to make the most of it when you're there

The Scientific Conference Guide (Or, How to Make the Most of Your Free Holiday) - an excellent guide that takes you through what to expect at a conference, and how to conduct yourself at each of these stages

10 Tips for grad students to make the most of a scientific conference - a great guide for attending conferences when you're early in your research career

Advice: how to network at conferences - this is some really high quality and down to earth advice on how to behave when it comes to networking at conferences. I highly recommend reading this one if you're new to the conference scene!

The Guardian - 5 tips on how to make the most of academic conferences - some more tips on networking at conferences

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/za2e

Aug 29, 202233:30
27. Interview with Associate Professor in genetics and genomics, Francine Marquez

27. Interview with Associate Professor in genetics and genomics, Francine Marquez

This week we’re thrilled to speak with one of the busiest (and most wonderful) scientists we know: Associate Professor Francine Marques. Francine is a Viertel Charitable Foundation and National Heart Foundation Fellow, and head of the Hypertension Research Laboratory at Monash University. She has published >90 peer-reviewed papers in top journals such as Nature Reviews Cardiology, Nature Medicine and Circulation, and has secured $7 million in competitive funding.

Francine has won 25 awards including the 2019 American Heart Association Hypertension Council Goldblatt Award, 2020 High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia and 2021 International Society of Hypertension Mid-Career Awards, and the 2021 Australian Academy of Science Gottschalk Medal. Her team investigates the molecular mechanisms behind the development of high blood pressure, with a focus on disease identification and prevention via the gut microbiota using both animal studies and clinical trials.

Francine is also the co-program manager for the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia, the chair of the International Society of Hypertension Mentoring and Training Committee, and an elected member of the steering committee for the Gordon Research Conference on Angiotensin. Francine is an amazing science communicator and is passionate about effective and compassionate leadership in science – you can read her lab manual which we discussed here: https://www.marqueslab.com/manual.

You call follow Francine and find out more about her work here:

https://twitter.com/fzmarques
https://www.monash.edu/science/schools/biological-sciences/staff/francine-marques
https://www.marqueslab.com/
https://womensagenda.com.au/leadership/associate-professor-francine-marques-on-leading-landmark-blood-pressure-research/
https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/biology/cancer-diagnosis-shaped-mindset/

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/74pe

Aug 22, 202229:56
26. How to use crowdfunding to raise money for your work in STEM
Aug 15, 202228:39
25. Interview with Professor Andy Pask

25. Interview with Professor Andy Pask

We’re so excited to welcome you to Season Four of Let’s Talk SciComm, with new episodes now released every Tuesday.

First up this season, we chat with Professor Andy Pask. Andy is a Professor in the School of BioSciences at the University of Melbourne and Domain Leader for Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology within the School. His research focuses on evolution and development.

His recent work is centered on the reproductive system and particularly the influence of hormones and endocrine disruptors on reproductive disease. He also has an active research program (TIGRR lab) on marsupial conservation, preservation and restoration. He has been supported by many fellowships, project grants, and philanthropic and industry funding for his work.

Andy has been very active in sharing his work with the media for many years and has learned a huge amount about how to communicate science effectively to different audiences.

You call follow Andy and find out more about his work here:

https://blogs.unimelb.edu.au/pasklab/

https://tigrrlab.science.unimelb.edu.au/

https://twitter.com/AJ_Pask

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-pask-350922b7/

https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/the-9-steps-to-de-extincting-australia-s-thylacine

https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/piecing-thylacine-dna-back-together

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/8epe

Aug 08, 202231:59
24. How to make time for SciComm
Jun 29, 202232:27
23. Interview with healthcare Managing Director Dr Michael Winlo
Jun 22, 202229:44
22. How to write successful grant applications

22. How to write successful grant applications

Jun 15, 202233:15
21. Interview with scientist & visual artist Kate Cranney

21. Interview with scientist & visual artist Kate Cranney

This week we are so excited to catch up with one of our University of Melbourne Science Communication alumni who is doing amazing things in the world!

Kate Cranney is a science communicator, scientist and visual artist. She combines these skills in her role as a Communications Advisor with CSIRO, Australia's national science agency.

Kate's background is diverse. She's climbed trees in Borneo, scaled volcanoes in Papua New Guinea, pulled snakes out of traps in the Simpson Desert, and counted turtle hatchlings in Solomon Islands … all in the name of science. With interests spanning ecology, the arts, science writing, education, podcasts and film, science communication was a natural fit. In her current role, she creates communication materials, delivers communications campaigns, liaises with the media, and runs storytelling training for the approximately 850 scientists in CSIRO's Land and Water, and Energy divisions.

Kate holds a Master of Science (with Distinction), and a dual Bachelor of Laws / Environmental Science (with Honours). In 2018 she spent 10 months travelling as part of an ISSI Fellowship in Science Communication. She visited museums, aquariums and other science organisations in Scandinavia, Europe, Canada and the USA. Her task? To learn from the most creative, novel and effective forms of science communication, and to bring that knowledge back to Australia!

This is the visualisation of Ira Glass’ ‘The Gap’ Kate mentions in the conversation: https://vimeo.com/85040589

You can follow Kate and see more of her work here:

https://katecranney.com

https://twitter.com/kateccranney

https://www.instagram.com/kate.cranney.art

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-cranney-71864923

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/t6pe

Jun 08, 202228:29