For a field that is often perceived to be a niche branch of the wider STEM tree, the topics discussed at this year’s SciComm South West conference were remarkably diverse.
Photo credit Tom Sparey
Following an insightful address from keynote speakers Wyn Griffiths and Dr Lindsay Keith about the practice of inclusion in the industry, attendees were treated to a varied menu of short sessions encompassing many aspects of science communication.
In one room, CERN’s Chetna Krishna discussed the work that goes into launching a podcast for an audience that’s ‘in awe of CERN, but don’t know exactly what we do’, from choosing a logo to ensuring diverse voices are heard. Sam Ridgeway then delved into the hot topic of Artificial Intelligence, and how he harnesses it in his work in documentary filmmaking. One interesting takeaway from Sam’s talk was the importance of always being polite to ChatGPT, as it could prompt better, more helpful answers! Staying on the topic of filmmaking, Ross Exton explored the importance of storytelling and well-structured narratives for producing meaningful and educational videos, facilitating an interactive session testing out the ‘But…So…’ framework on different well-known stories, prompting some amusing contributions. In the next room, time machines, science show questionnaires and climate education were just some of the exciting talks taking place before the conference took a short break for lunch, and a nature walk around campus!
Photo credit Tom Sparey
Whilst the range of topics varied greatly between each talk, there were some common themes arising. Conversations about funding, ethics and audience engagement were facilitated during the Q&A time for each session, highlighting the challenges and opportunities across the different research contexts. Another idea discussed by several speakers was co-design, the practice of involving users and stakeholders throughout a project, to better meet the needs of end users. PHD student Ana Vasconcelos demonstrated how important participatory processes such as this one are for engaging niche audiences, taking listeners through her fascinating research into information design for the Portuguese autoimmune encephalitis community.
Photo credit Tom Sparey
It was a privilege to share the space with such innovative and hard-working minds, and particularly inspiring to see so many speakers credit their time on the MSc Science Communication at UWE Bristol, which is currently celebrating its 20th year.
Sarah Adams, MSc Science Communication student at UWE Bristol.