Find out how MSc Science Communication student Casey Spry created a podcast about UWE Bristol’s repair café
Leaning against the kitchen window on a warm summer’s afternoon, I suddenly realised my first September with no plans was approaching. Feeling nervous, I scrolled through courses online when I came across one that grabbed my attention – MSc Science Communication. It sounded interesting. My mum peered over my shoulder and said, “Apply, what have you got to lose?” One year later, I was listening to my own voice rumble through the car radio, discussing all things science and sustainability.
I entered the Master’s course at UWE Bristol hoping to discover a new career goal; I wanted a role that allowed me to talk about environmental science and be creative. So, when I was asked to make a podcast package about UWE Bristol’s Repair Café event, I jumped at the opportunity.
The Repair Café is an event held once a month at UWE Bristol’s School of Engineering building, where students and community members can get broken items fixed for free. But it is also much more than that. The event is part of a wider sustainability movement, as it prevents environmentally harmful items from ending up in landfill. It is run entirely by dedicated volunteers, and I was thrilled to be chatting with some of them for this podcast.
Interviewing people was a new challenge for me, but I was up for it. What I didn’t anticipate, was finding myself in a situation where I would have to interview three people, all at once. Sitting in the open-access area of the engineering building, I set up the microphone, tampered with the recording button more times than necessary, and started the interview with a shaky “Welcome everyone”.
Alongside the interviews, there also needed to be an underlying narrative. It’s all about the story. I was excited about this part, but how could I make this podcast more relatable? I often pondered such thoughts while doing mundane tasks like cooking dinner. Tapping my foot with anticipation, I pulled open my air fryer drawer, only to find the door handle clenched between my fingertips and burnt chips forever locked inside. Instead of immediately throwing the air fryer away, I contemplated its fate as the broken drawer sat miserably on the kitchen counter for weeks. It just didn’t feel right to throw something away when the most expensive part of it, the electricals, wasn’t broken. Could there possibly be a cure? Yes, the Repair Café at UWE Bristol was happening the following Wednesday, and I had faith I could return it to my student house with a new lease of life.
Drew, a volunteer repairer, became the hero of this story; he fixed the air fryer with only two screws. Admittedly, I felt ashamed that I couldn’t have figured out how to do that myself, but it seems I am not the only one who has lost these basic repair skills. As I discovered, during the interviews, the Repair Café also focuses on teaching people how to fix things at home, which is an important skill that many of us no longer have.
Our four-way conversation had flowed better than I could have hoped for, but now it was time to get editing and cut it down to something concise and engaging. Having an active video editing hobby and three years of experience using Adobe editing software, I was undoubtedly looking forward to this part the most. Yet, as with any project, I had plenty of hurdles to get over. Somehow, during the interview I had managed to block out the almost comedic sounds of students playing giant ‘Connect 4’ on a table next to us. Putting my audio editing skills to the test, I worked for days to reduce the noise, but in time I found enjoyment in the immersivity of the surrounding ambience. Including background noise, in fact, became a technique I would use in future radio and podcast creations.
I first heard the package on Bristol City FM as it aired live on the Love and Science radio show. The experience was slightly surreal, but I felt grateful to be sharing it with family and friends as they listened from different locations. Anyone can now listen to the package on the Science Chatters podcast, which can be found through the following link…
While I am only two-thirds of the way through this course, I already have a clearer picture of what it means to be a science communicator. I discovered that this experience wasn’t just about creating a podcast, but also the chance to meet incredible people, all with the same goal as mine – working to create a more sustainable and healthier planet. In addition to learning how to put life back into kitchen appliances, I discovered that there are no limits to the science I can learn and share when creating a science podcast.
By Casey Spry, MSc Science Communication student