Writing Science | Science Communication Unit blog

Exploring Science Communication as a Cognitive Sciences Student

Science Communication Unit | 11 March 202611 March 2026

When I first heard the term “sabbatical student,” I pictured old-timey scholars taking long breaks to mull over grand ideas. Not that I took this image literally, but somehow this is what sprang to mind. In reality, I was lucky enough to hold this position for three months at UWE Bristol despite only being a master’s student.

Funnily enough, studying cognitive sciences in Croatia as part of my master’s programme, is exactly what led me to this opportunity in my hometown of Bristol. Through the Erasmus scheme, I was funded to undertake an internship of my own choosing. And fortunately, Professor Clare Wilkinson warmly accepted my request to join the Science Communication Unit (SCU) at the University of the West of England (UWE), allowing me to further explore my interests in science communication.

I wasn’t only attracted to science communication (SciComm) by my love of writing, I was also eager to explore what topics lay beyond this. I was especially curious to see how this experience would inform my own cognitive sciences research project.

First Encounters with SciComm

I came into this experience with a relatively blank slate in terms of science communication experience, but it didn’t take me long to realise that I had underestimated the breadth of this field. I was amazed by the varied SciComm approaches that the team were involved in, from teaching science through performing arts, to standup comedy, and even videogames like Minecraft.

It wasn’t just the variety of approaches that surprised me, it was also how much SciComm crosses different fields. I initially saw it as a means of making information more accessible, but it’s actually much more than that. It’s a rich, interdisciplinary field that connects areas such as the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Getting to know the students on the MSc Science Communication programme at UWE reminded me just how flexible this field is. Suyi Tay a current student, is blending art and science and plans to share soil science in a future activity by transforming the sounds of soil samples into a live musical experience. Meanwhile, Ross Metcalfe, a further friend I made from the programme is exploring how research conducted by a charity might reach the public more effectively, by building a framework to improve that process, a fascinating example of how SciComm and society intersect.

Learning highlights

Instead of just observing from the sidelines during the sabbatical, Clare encouraged me to actively explore and engage with SciComm in ways that matched my own interests. With this, I decided that I wanted to audit the Writing Science MSc module, which the senior lecturers Dr Andy Ridgway and Andrew Glester kindly approved.

One experience that particularly stood out to me on this module was the chance to interview a researcher and turn that conversation into a news article. I had the chance to interview Dr Amanda Webber, the MSc’s programme leader, who is also a senior lecturer and anthropologist. She was nothing short of captivating as she shared insights about the student learning experiences taking place in the forests of Madagascar. The process gave me valuable real-world practice, and with the article set to be published in the UWE Science Matters magazine, it’s a piece I can showcase to potential employers.

Another highlight from my sabbatical involved Suyi taking me along to the BCfm radio station, where she was presenting on a UWE led science show, Love & Science. She introduced me to the radio host George Edwards, who despite his multi-tasking, took the effort to explain how everything works as he went along.

I enjoyed listening to Suyi and George as they eagerly discussed a news article about ADHD diagnosis. The atmosphere felt like friends chatting in a pub, except that there were hundreds of people listening. This feeling of ease made me realise just how approachable these spaces are; they no longer seem distant and intimidating to me. George even offered me a chance to present on the show, which I hope to do after completing my masters.

*BCfm* *set-up: photo courtesy of* *Love & Science*

How SciComm Shaped My Research Thinking

My master’s thesis looks at how language is used in animal cognition research papers; specifically, how wording choices shape the claims that signal to readers.

Coming from a cognitive sciences background, I was already interested in how claims reflect the strength of the underlying evidence. For instance, a researcher might write, “These birds appear to remember locations for up to a week.” The word appear signals appropriate caution in a study which only tested a small number of birds under specific conditions.

But auditing the Science and Society module as part of the MSc programme pushed me to think beyond accuracy alone. I started to notice how claims also work on a social level, shaping how findings are received by readers and the wider scientific community.

For example, authors often write “the results indicate” rather than “I show.” This kind of impersonal phrasing creates distance between the researcher and the claim. It can make findings sound more objective and easier for the community to accept.

One of the most valuable outcomes of this sabbatical was being able to bring these perspectives together. I’m now approaching my thesis with a more rounded view of what scientific claims actually imply.

Presenting my thesis progress to the SCU team also played a big role in this. Although it was initially daunting, everyone was incredibly warm and supportive. Their enthusiastic response gave me a real confidence boost and made me feel part of a community where perfection isn’t expected, and sharing learning and the reality of experiences is also important.

Even though my project has since evolved beyond that which I originally presented, the feedback from the team at the SCU gave me important points to reflect on and ultimately helped me find a clearer direction.

Goodbye & thank you!

Looking back, this sabbatical truly surprised me, it pushed me to see SciComm and my own research in new and exciting ways. I am very thankful for the knowledge and skills gained from this experience, as well as the new friends.

A huge thank you to everyone in the Science Communication team and the MSc students, you were all incredibly inspiring. I look forward to seeing some of you again in the future.

By Megan Todd, Cognitive Sciences Master’s (MSc) student, University of Rijeka, Croatia.

To Futurum and Beyond: The first steps of a UWE Science Communication graduate

Science Communication Unit | 2 December 20252 December 2025

In the autumn of 2022, with my MSc Science Communication at UWE Bristol drawing to a close, I found myself caught between a rock (my looming dissertation deadline) and a hard place (a highly competitive and unforgiving job market). An interview with Bristol-based science education magazine, Futurum careers, provided a glimmer of hope. However, while my master’s ended on a high, the interview ended in rejection, and I found myself in the confusion of a post-grad, post-COVID job hunt.

Not long after the interview, Futurum contacted me to ask if I would be interested in doing some freelance work for them as a writer, a situation that the scicomm master’s had prepared me well for. Over the next couple of years, I developed a close working relationship with the Futurum team, writing articles, producing podcasts and gaining experience until, finally, they offered me the job I had originally applied for.

All this to say, when one door closes, loiter outside for a couple of years until it opens again.

*Graduating from the UWE science communication master’s in November 2022.*

Futurum Careers is a free online resource and magazine aimed at introducing 14-19-year-olds to careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities, Arts for People and the Economy). We collaborate with academics from all over the world and translate their research into open educational resources such as articles, activity sheets, podcasts, animations and PowerPoint presentations. Our resources connect curriculum subjects with real-world research projects and the people behind them, showing students that anyone and everyone can find their place in STEM and SHAPE.

As an editorial assistant at Futurum careers, I spend my days editing articles, creating educational resources and producing podcasts. Every day is an opportunity to use and continue to develop skills that I first learnt on the UWE Bristol MSc Science Communication.

Looking back through my coursework, I can read my first clunky attempts at science writing and cringe at my first awkward, stilted podcasts. We all have to start somewhere, and as the course progressed, my confidence grew and I honed my technical skills. I learnt how to tailor my writing to a target audience, how to build flexibility into a structured interview, and how to sift through heaps of complex information to find the golden nuggets needed to build a narrative. Putting these skills into practice and receiving expert guidance and feedback was invaluable and allowed me to take my first steps as a freelance science communicator with a sure foot.

As well as skills, I also gained knowledge. I learnt about the deficit models and its downfalls, about trust in science and how to instil (or impair) it, and about science capital and the impact it can have on a young person’s prospects. Learning about these ideas gave me the context I needed to understand Futurum’s mission and find my place in the company.

*A selection of Futurum careers resources.*

Although I started working for Futurum as a writer, it is my work on the Futurum careers podcast that I am most proud of. As host of the podcast, I have interviewed all sorts of researchers from historians and philosophers to physicists, ecologists and even a marine bioacoustician. Chatting to these people about their research, their careers and their advice for students is the best part of my job. As I said in our recent editorial episode of the podcast, “[The podcast] is a really nice opportunity to get to know the researchers a bit better. And then I get to just sit back and listen to these people talk about their amazing lives and their amazing work. And it’s inspiring for me, so I hope it’s inspiring for the students that listen to it as well.”

Currently, I am working on an episode of the podcast with ethnomusicologist Dr Marcia Ostashewski and her team at the Centre for Sound Communities (CSC) in Unama’ki (Cape Breton), Nova Scotia. Marcia and I have been collaborating on a suite of educational resources over the past year, highlighting the diversity of researchers working at the CSC and the communities that they serve and support.

In September 2025, Marcia invited me to present these resources at a course on world music pedagogy in Halifax that explored the role of music in teaching and learning through diverse cultural perspectives and in relationship with diverse local culture bearers and communities. While public speaking is not my favourite thing to do, I was excited to travel somewhere new and push myself out of my comfort zone.

*Presenting a Futurum careers PowerPoint at the World Music Pedagogy course hosted by the Centre for Sound Communities at Dalhousie University, October 2025.*

In the end, half an hour of sweaty palms and stammering speech was well worth it. Not only did I get to listen to Julian Kytasty, a world-renowned bandura player, perform, but I also got to chat with him and learn about his musical heritage and traditions. Not only did I get to experience the joyful teaching of Mamadou Koita, a virtuoso balafón player from Burkina Faso, but I also got to play djembe alongside him and Afua Cooper, a slam poet, author and scholar.

To take part in this event was a truly special experience, and it’s just one of many highlights that I’ve had while working for Futurum. It’s a privilege to be able to say that I love my job and that I’m proud of what I do. In these uncertain times, it’s hard to know where my science communication career will end up, but I do know that it started in the Science Communication Unit at UWE Bristol, and I will always be grateful for that.

*Playing djembe alongside Daniel, Mamadou Koita and Afua Cooper at the World Music Pedagogy course hosted by the Centre for Sound Communities at Dalhousie University, October 2025.*

By Joe Aslett, UWE Bristol MSc Science Communication student 2022.

Learning Lab: BBC Science Focus Magazine

Science Communication Unit | 22 October 202422 October 2024

By Matilde Marques

From a young age, I always found myself torn between two passions: science and writing. For years, I thought I had to choose between them, not realizing that they could actually go hand in hand. When I discovered Science Communication, I was thrilled to learn that I could combine both loves. And as much as I enjoyed every bit of my MSc Science Communication studies, the Learning Lab at BBC Science Focus Magazine felt like the cherry on top.

Throughout my week-long placement, I had the opportunity to shadow several members of the editorial team and dive headfirst into the fast-paced world of science journalism. I got to write news articles and received invaluable feedback from the editors that pushed my writing to new levels. It was reassuring to see that the skills I’d been honing throughout my studies were well-suited to the demands of professional science writing. But more importantly, I was reminded that we never stop learning, and there’s always room to grow.

Beyond writing, the placement allowed me to develop several key skills that will be essential in my future career, including conducting thorough background research to ensure accuracy and depth, understanding the target audience, and learning how to tailor content to match their interests.

One of the most rewarding parts of the experience was having an article I wrote published—an honor I’ll never forget! By the end of the week, I was tasked with writing an “Everything You Need to Know” guide on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission—a topic I knew almost nothing about. I won’t sugarcoat it: hearing that I had five hours to research and write my first piece was nerve-wracking. But I thrived on the adrenaline of it all. That challenge sparked something in me: I knew this was exactly what I wanted to do with my life—write about science to help inform others while constantly learning myself.

A highlight of the week came toward the end of the placement when I had the chance to sit down with the Editor. We had an encouraging and insightful conversation as he provided advice on how to carve out a career in science writing. It helped me see that my aspirations weren’t just a far-off dream—they were entirely within reach. His guidance gave me a clear sense of the next steps I needed to take to achieve my goal.

Another great takeaway from the week was the network of professional contacts I built. The connections I made have already been invaluable, providing advice and even career opportunities. Plus, having published work to show at interviews is a massive boost for my CV.

I loved every moment of my time at Science Focus, from gaining a deeper understanding of the magazine’s inner workings to working with an incredibly talented and supportive team. I wholeheartedly recommend the Learning Lab placement to any MSc Science Communication student at UWE Bristol. For those who are unsure of their career path, it’s an excellent way to explore different roles within science communication. As for me, it cemented my desire to become a science writer. The placement gave me the confidence to believe that the career I once thought was out of reach was not only possible but something I was fully equipped for, thanks to my academic background, and offered a crucial bridge between academic study and real-world application

My only regret? It was just one week long—I could have stayed for months.

Matilde Marques, MSc Science Communication student, UWE Bristol

Learning Lab: Science Focus magazine

Science Communication Unit | 4 January 20244 January 2024

I was sitting near the cascade steps in Bristol City Centre when I had a rare epiphany. A guest on a podcast I was listening to mentioned that she worked as a freelance science writer, and it sounded like the dream job. Two thirds of an MSc in Science Communication later, and there I was, only a hundred metres or so from that spot in the City Centre, entering the Our Media building that houses the offices of one of the most successful popular science magazines in the UK, Science Focus.

Over the course of my week-long work Learning Lab placement, I was able to shadow a few different members of staff. On my first day, I spent time with the Online Editor, learning how to put an article online, and how to set up the daily newsletter Instant Genius. She talked me through all things SEO which was absolutely fascinating, and I helped compile the weekly report, looking at which articles have been most popular over the previous week.

By the end of my first day I was completing an ‘Everything You Need to Know’ guide to NASA’s Artemis programme. It was different to the kinds of articles I’d written previously, as it’s a style of article that’s designed to be updated regularly, but it was a format I was familiar with, having been a regular reader of the website. It just goes to show how important it is to really get to know the work of a magazine, online or print, before trying to pitch to or write for them.

I got to practice more familiar skills from my Writing Science module on the Master’s course, by writing a news article about how people with the ‘Dark Triad’ personality traits use humour, and another about using human sweat to power wearable technology. After I’d finished writing, the Commissioning Editor spent time going through my work with me, which was invaluable. It showed me that the skills I had learnt as part of the module had already prepared me well for professional science writing, and that we can never stop learning. I also had the opportunity to offer suggestions for edits for pieces by regular contributors; it was encouraging when the editor agreed with me, and even more useful to understand his thinking when he disagreed.

Near the end of the week I met with the Editor, who listened to my ideas and gave me some valuable advice and insight into making a career out of science writing. Our conversation made me realise that it was an achievable goal for me and helped to focus me on my next steps.

I’d recommend the Learning Lab placements to any student on the MSc Science Communication at UWE Bristol. For those that aren’t sure exactly what they want to do, it would be a great opportunity to explore different options and get a feel for what roles are available. For me, it gave me the confidence that a career which had previously felt like a distant dream could be a reality, thanks to the skills and knowledge I had gained on the MSc.

Rebecca Landon, MSc Science Communication student at UWE Bristol.

Writing Science – Student Magazine Work 2021

Science Communication Unit | 22 March 202114 July 2023

Students on the Writing Science module in the 20/21 academic year came up with some impressive online science magazines. Their brief was to develop a science magazine from scratch and they were left to develop the concept and choose who the audience would be themselves.

Claudia Stocker, Morwenna Bugg, Jessica Howard and Alex Johanson-Brown decided to turn their mutual interest in coffee into a fully caffeinated science magazine. Grounds for Thought is aimed at readers who work in the coffee industry and keeps them up to date with the science related to coffee, the coffee industry and coffee shops:

Ben Holder, Anna Shah, Ed Carter and Chloe Raikes developed Go Low, an online magazine student travel magazine that aims to promote sustainable travel by giving useful information about how to reduce the environmental impacts of travelling:

Category: Writing Science