When I first arrived in Bristol, I could never have imagined how transformative my time there would be. Let me set the scene: a PhD student from Bolivia whose teenage imagination was filled with Poirot’s grey cells, Miss Marple’s mystery parties, British music, Skins, Monty Python, Trainspotting… Yes, I was a ‘Britophile’. Over time, university and adult life meant I’d forgotten that passion, until my love for Science Communication brought me back to the land of my dreams as a visiting research student at one of the loveliest places on earth, the Science Communication Unit (SCU) at the University of the West of England (UWE).
When I arrived I was both excited and slightly nervous. I had brought a research project that mattered deeply to me, but I wasn’t sure how it would resonate with others or how much it would evolve during my time at the SCU. Now looking back, I can see that every conversation, meeting, or even casual lunch made my research stronger. What started as a sabbatical soon became much more than that: an exercise in collaboration, cultural immersion, and rediscovering what makes research truly meaningful. Please join me in this brief diary of my stay.
March 28th 2025 – First Steps
Today I went to campus for the first time. Everything felt new: the architecture, the rhythm, even the way people smiled in the corridors. I visited the Engineering School, the Students’ Union, and finally the College of Business and Law, X Block, where Professor Clare Wilkinson wants us to meet on Monday. I remember thinking, “This is it. This is where it begins.”
And I haven’t even mentioned the sunshine—yes, there was plenty of it.
March 31st 2025 – Meeting Clare
Our first face-to-face conversation happened in Clare’s office. I had spent almost six months exchanging emails, filling out forms, and navigating the usual bureaucracy, so finally meeting Clare in person felt a bit unreal. Clare is one of the leading voices in science communication, so I feel incredibly lucky that she would be hosting me during this journey.
She warmly explained how the sabbatical would work — the weekly meetings, the structure of the SCU, and the community of visiting researchers. Then she handed me a book, Race and Sociocultural Inclusion in Science Communication, which resonated with my PhD interests, and recommended a bibliography on systematic reviews, the area I was currently focusing on.
It was a short, welcoming meeting. The perfect beginning. Clare encouraged me to set clear, achievable goals for my stay. I told her that finishing a chapter of my thesis would feel like a dream come true.
Before leaving, she introduced me to Ana Vasconcelos, another sabbatical researcher from Portugal. We had lunch together, and she even helped me find an adapter for my cables. That small act of kindness made the day brighter and was my first taste of how welcoming this community would be.
April 9th 2025 – Going deeper
My second week was busy. I spent hours at the 24/7 library, a paradise for any researcher. Excellent Wi-Fi, comfortable chairs, and quiet spaces that made me feel instantly productive.
That morning, I met with Clare again, this time to present my research plan in detail. Of course, I was very nervous —would she think my project was too small, too messy, too ambitious? But she listened carefully, asked thoughtful questions, and told me she was genuinely interested. That gave me confidence. It was the first time I realised that what I was doing mattered. I felt my voice from the Global South was not only welcomed but needed.
That day I met Dr. David Judge, Jane Wooster and Dr. Achintya Rao, team members in the SCU, for the first time. We shared a lovely lunch chatting about gardening and birds, while I was still picking up the accent and the new words. I nodded wisely… even when I only understood 70%. I didn’t yet know how much I would learn from them later.
April 17th 2025: Coffee, potatoes, and cinema
I still laugh when I remember my “time-zone limbo.” After nine years living in Spain, where the clock runs one hour ahead of the UK, my sense of time was completely mixed up. I’d often arrange things “an hour later” or “an hour earlier,” forgetting which time zone I was actually in.
Ana and I agreed to meet for lunch at 1:30. So there I was, waiting, getting hungrier by the minute, until I gave up and ordered a delicious jacket potato. But Ana had already eaten with Achintya, perfectly on schedule, just not my schedule. When we all realised the confusion they advised me to keep both clocks on my phone.
I still do.
We made up for the missed lunch with coffee that afternoon. We talked about conferences, cinema, urbanism, dictatorship and, of course, about Bristol. How each of us experienced the city in their own way. Ana had already made it part of her rhythm, and Achintya, with her global perspective, saw it through many lenses. For me, everything still felt extraordinary.
Their insight helped me see that my stay in Bristol wasn’t just about research; it was also about learning how people live, work, and dream here.
April 25th 2025: Immersed in The Cave
I had the chance to spend a day with students studying for the MSc in Science Communication at UWE. We started with a VR Immersive Experience in ‘The Cave’, an emblematic and very cool space where we got to experiment with alternative identities and explore what living with blindness or schizophrenia might feel like. It was powerful, emotional, and unforgettable.
It was wonderful to spend time with such a diverse group: people of different ages, backgrounds, and scientific passions, all united by a shared curiosity about communication. Their energy was contagious, as was their willingness to teach me about the nuances of British people and culture. They convinced me that I needed to visit Cardiff as soon as possible!
Later, I joined sessions led by Clare, Achintya, and Professor Emma Weitkamp, where we explored Evaluation and Impact in Science Communication, Social Media in the Communication Mix, and Arts-based Approaches to Science Communication. Each session added something new, practical, inspiring, and deeply relevant.
Deep down, I caught myself wishing I could have done such an MSc when I started my career. It was exactly the kind of creative and collaborative environment I’ve always loved.
April 29th 2025: My first SCU meeting
This was a turning point. I had the chance to present my project to the entire SCU. The table was full of wisdom, and I met many of the members for the first time. The format —sharing updates followed by open feedback— revealed just how many inspiring projects and ideas were taking shape within the group.
I prepared a colourful presentation to introduce who I am and did my best to tell my research story. The feedback was sharp but generous. Listening to comments from Dr. Laura Fogg Rogers, Andrew Glester, and Dr. Andy Ridgway, and being challenged to rethink some of my assumptions, made me realise that my research was part of a larger, evolving conversation.
Afterwards, Emma told me she believed in my project. She encouraged me to attend a writing retreat and offered to help me review my methods. For a student far from home, her generous support felt like a gift.
May 15th 2025: Writing together in the city
The writing retreat was one of my favourite days. We met in the Arnolfini Building, right in the city centre. Each of us worked quietly on our projects, yet the room was full of connection. During breaks, we talked about history, politics, and gardening. Dr. Amanda Webber had just returned from a field trip in Madagascar, and I was thrilled to finally meet her and hear about her experience there.
Over one of the breaks, David and I had a fascinating conversation about actor-network theory and its relation to situational analysis. He is a very kind human being, and it was great to find common ground in frameworks often used in science studies, and to see how we were both applying them in our own science communication work.
Later, I had an amazing one-on-one with Emma. We began by sharing our migration journeys before diving into the details of my work. Besides being generous and incredibly insightful, Emma is also fun and easy-going, making hard work feel light. That day, I left with a clear roadmap: coding tests, a stronger framework, and the reassurance that I was on the right track.
May 27-29th 2025: The Conference!
After two years of working mostly alone, attending the 2025 Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) Conference with the UWE team felt like a privilege. It was even more special because the event was taking place right here in the UK, in Aberdeen.
Among the sessions, the discussion on Science Journalism for Development in the Global South resonated deeply with me. It explored uncritical reporting, science-unfriendly cultures, and the persistence of a neo-colonial scientific order — issues that felt close to my own research. The closing talk by Dr. Rajesh Tandon was equally powerful, calling on us to reclaim science as a public good in the service of democracy.
Beyond the sessions, reconnecting with colleagues, meeting authors I admire, and spending time with the wonderful UWE crowd reaffirmed why I love this field. One of the highlights was standing side by side with Beatriz Vietie and Ana — three generations of sabbatical students at UWE — a living symbol of mentorship and continuity.
I also had deep, inspiring conversations with Sarah Behenna, whose project with girls and science reminded me of the bigger purpose behind everything we do: to make knowledge inclusive, to help others, and to bring science closer to people.
June 5th 2025: About lunch drop-ins
Not all growth happened in formal meetings or structured encounters. During a lunch drop-in, Ria Griffiths and Jane Wooster introduced me to the great British debate: cream first or jam first on a scone? The Devon or the Cornish way? We laughed and shared stories, and for me, it was another kind of learning. Two amazing women, full of facts, thoughtful about humanity, and completely okay with my Latin American laughter.
As a Bolivian abroad, these small cultural exchanges were just as important as the academic ones. The time spent with Ria and Jane in our office was full of moments that made me feel closer to British culture. They taught me about daily life, expressions, humour, and the quiet warmth hidden beneath the English rain.
June 9th 2025: A Bee Orchid on campus
Monday had just begun, and I was on my way to the library when I ran into a very concerned Amanda. The reason soon became clear: a newly bloomed bee orchid on campus, a rare and beautiful flower that doesn’t appear often in gardens. I’d seen a picture before in Emma’s office, so I understood the excitement.
Amanda explained how important it was to protect these rare blooms, especially since some gardening work was happening nearby. But to our surprise and relief, the gardener had already noticed the orchid and was being extra careful not to harm it.
It was a quiet, special moment, a reminder to slow down, to look closely… to stop and smell the roses…or, in this case, the orchids.
June 12th 2025: Clare and Guidiana go for lunch
Throughout my stay, I was lucky to have the continuous support of Clare who somehow always found time despite her impossibly busy schedule. She is not only deeply knowledgeable but also incredibly thoughtful and clear, a person with the rare gift of making complex things simple.
I admired her ability to remember everything that was happening across the Unit, to share readings and bibliographic gems at the right moment, and to write the clearest, most encouraging emails. During my stay, she helped me rethink the structure of my research and how I see myself as a researcher.
Claire seemed amused by my Britophile enthusiasm: my excitement about the never-ending sunny days, the delicious dishes, and the authors and musicians I’ve admired since I was a teenager. That day over lunch, we got to talk about that: about our simple, human sides. I told her about my family following this experience from the other side of the ocean, and she shared stories that helped me see her beyond the academic brilliance.
At some point, I told her I’d been keeping a diary of my visiting research experience as a way of not forgetting any of it. She smiled and said, “We’ve never posted a diary format on the blog.” And now, we will.
Interlude – My Bristol Moments
Beyond the campus, Bristol itself became part of my research journey. The city has this rare energy: creative, kind, and full of curiosity. We The Curious absolutely blew my mind. It’s such an extraordinary concept: a space where families spend the afternoon playing with science. I loved watching parents, children, and grandparents exploring science side by side.
The planetarium was even better than expected: immersive, beautifully narrated, and rich in astronomy. I was fascinated by the M Shed Museum. There wasn’t enough time to dive into every detail but it offered a powerful reminder of how science, culture, and history intertwine in the making of place and identity.
Between those experiences, the street art, the concerts in the city centre, and the food I enjoyed (because yes, I really liked the food!) Bristol felt like a vibrant place where science, art, and everyday life flowed together with creativity, dialogue, and of course, a pint and a smile.
June 16th 2025: Simplifying and deepening
A short meeting with Clare and Emma helped me realize something crucial: I didn’t need to cover everything. They encouraged me to focus: “Go deep, not wide.” Be exhaustive with fewer cases, keeping the analysis simple but meaningful.
Their advice changed how I approached my work. It showed me that solid research isn’t measured by volume but by clarity —by choosing with care and asking the right questions.
In a way, it was preparation for leaving: an invitation to refine, to consolidate, and to take the most valuable insights forward with me.
June 23th 2025: The Farewell
My last day at the SCU office was a full house. It felt like a normal workday, yet I could sense that quiet mix of joy and nostalgia. I joined my final SCU Meeting, where I shared that my communication had been accepted for the Science Communication Conference in Mallorca, a piece of work inspired directly by what I developed during my stay.
We laughed about how much I’d grown to love English food (yes, really!). We took pictures, exchanged small gifts and I left a sombrero de sao as a small souvenir and gesture of gratitude. Then we had lunch and, later, one last drink together in the garden.
It was the perfect ending: simple, warm, and full of community. The kind of goodbye that doesn’t feel like an ending at all, but rather the start of a new chapter.
Gracias, Thank you
From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank Clare and Emma. You gave me guidance, patience, and trust. And to Achintya, Amanda, David, Jane, Sarah, Ria and all the SCU members who made Bristol feel like home. You didn’t just strengthen my research; you offered me community.
I came here as a PhD student from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, carrying my own questions and doubts. I leave with stronger research, new friendships, and a renewed love for British culture. Jacket potatoes, scones, pints, ceilidh dances, rare orchids, deep conversations, and countless moments of laughter— all of it is now part of me.
By Guidiana Landivar Paz, PhD sabbatical student 2025 ( Universidad Complutense de Madrid)