Forums > Social Chat > Science Communication
Login/Join to ParticipateBRONZE Member
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
Posted:
As some of the posts/discussions here have shown, scientists often find it hard to communicate with "normal" (well, you're all spinners, so more-or-less-normal would be better...) people about their subjects, and I've always thought of doing something about that.
Now the chance comes up: my uni offers a thingy for postgrads to communicate science to the public by going into schools, working at a roadshow and the Edinburgh Science Festival, giving talks, designing exhibits, working on websites and teachers' packs etc etc etc. The best thing is that it's meant as an alternative to lab demonstrations so they pay for it!!! And last but not least it's part of a pilot project for a certificate in science communication.
https://www.scieng.ed.ac.uk/scicom/pgsct.htm#apply
I really want to do this. Please please please wish me luck that my supervisor will let me, and that they want me.
As some of the posts/discussions here have shown, scientists often find it hard to communicate with "normal" (well, you're all spinners, so more-or-less-normal would be better...) people about their subjects, and I've always thought of doing something about that.
Now the chance comes up: my uni offers a thingy for postgrads to communicate science to the public by going into schools, working at a roadshow and the Edinburgh Science Festival, giving talks, designing exhibits, working on websites and teachers' packs etc etc etc. The best thing is that it's meant as an alternative to lab demonstrations so they pay for it!!! And last but not least it's part of a pilot project for a certificate in science communication.
https://www.scieng.ed.ac.uk/scicom/pgsct.htm#apply
I really want to do this. Please please please wish me luck that my supervisor will let me, and that they want me.
"vices are like genitals - most are ugly to behold, and yet we find that our own are dear to us."
(G.W. Dahlquist)
Owner of Dragosani's left half
SILVER Member
Muddy fingernails
505 posts
Location: Way oop norf, Scotland (UK)
Muddy fingernails
505 posts
Location: Way oop norf, Scotland (UK)
Posted:
Sounds really cool! Hope you get it.
Sounds really cool! Hope you get it.
Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!
KITTENS!!!!
SILVER Member
[psylocibin fingerbobe].
479 posts
Location: London, United Kingdom
[psylocibin fingerbobe].
479 posts
Location: London, United Kingdom
Posted:
sounds great!
good luck with that
sounds great!
good luck with that
SILVER Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,899 posts
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,899 posts
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Posted:
good luck!
few people have the gift of interpretation of sciences for the masses.
Isaac Asimov did.
respect to him always.
I know I can't do it. I just plain forget what people who are not versed in my field know or don't know!
good luck!
few people have the gift of interpretation of sciences for the masses.
Isaac Asimov did.
respect to him always.
I know I can't do it. I just plain forget what people who are not versed in my field know or don't know!
-v-
Wiederstand ist Zwecklos!
BRONZE Member
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
Posted:
I have the "ok IF (it won't stop you from doing your work)" from my prof, but given that it actually wouldn't involve taking more time off work than lab demonstration and he's encouraged that I'm sure it'll turn into an ok
YAYYYYYYYY I'm so happy about finding out about this!! Though they'll probably say "You're not a native speaker so you'll be crap at presenting and writing stuff", but maybe I can trick them.
I have the "ok IF (it won't stop you from doing your work)" from my prof, but given that it actually wouldn't involve taking more time off work than lab demonstration and he's encouraged that I'm sure it'll turn into an ok
YAYYYYYYYY I'm so happy about finding out about this!! Though they'll probably say "You're not a native speaker so you'll be crap at presenting and writing stuff", but maybe I can trick them.
"vices are like genitals - most are ugly to behold, and yet we find that our own are dear to us."
(G.W. Dahlquist)
Owner of Dragosani's left half
BRONZE Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,136 posts
Location: Warwickshire, United Kingdom
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,136 posts
Location: Warwickshire, United Kingdom
Posted:
good luck!
I entered a competition a couple of years ago by the IEE to give a lecture in the realm of electronic engineering/physics to lay people with a passing interest in the subject. Quite fun. Of course, the winner was the same one which I (and the other competitors i knew) thought was the absolute worst (it was like they were trying to make it loose, they violated every point were were briefed not to do, the judges were ejits). I had the most questions in the question part from people who actually wanted to know about the subject and the only one to have people come and talk to me in the interval wanting to know more/ask specific questions. Oh well, I was most gutted that I didn't get the money, not that I thought my lecturing/public speaking skills were crap
good luck!
I entered a competition a couple of years ago by the IEE to give a lecture in the realm of electronic engineering/physics to lay people with a passing interest in the subject. Quite fun. Of course, the winner was the same one which I (and the other competitors i knew) thought was the absolute worst (it was like they were trying to make it loose, they violated every point were were briefed not to do, the judges were ejits). I had the most questions in the question part from people who actually wanted to know about the subject and the only one to have people come and talk to me in the interval wanting to know more/ask specific questions. Oh well, I was most gutted that I didn't get the money, not that I thought my lecturing/public speaking skills were crap
BRONZE Member
Macaque of all trades
8,738 posts
Location: wombling free..., United Kingdom
Macaque of all trades
8,738 posts
Location: wombling free..., United Kingdom
Posted:
I think that may occur at portsmouth uni too. not sure, but a friend of mine is a teacher and he asked me if i was a scientist (did a science degree) and if I could go to his school for a talk about my job...
He was upset when i said i work in shipping
But i think it's a great idea
I think that may occur at portsmouth uni too. not sure, but a friend of mine is a teacher and he asked me if i was a scientist (did a science degree) and if I could go to his school for a talk about my job...
He was upset when i said i work in shipping
But i think it's a great idea
A couple of balls short of a full cascade... or maybe a few cards short of a deck... we'll see how this all fans out.
SILVER Member
just a shadow of my former self...
205 posts
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
just a shadow of my former self...
205 posts
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted:
hey birgit, thats really great, hope it all goes well. i know wots its like (as im sure alot of other HOPpers and ppl do) when no one understadns really wot u do. im doin my MA in anthropology, after doin a double BSc in zoology and ecology, when ever i see my family, they always ask me wot im odin, they never understand. finding language for the average person to understand can be quite tricky while maintaining all the ideas and concepts associated with one single word that we (academics-cringe, i hate that word) use all the time. i try talkni to my flatmate sometimes, but after the first sentence i can just see the eyes glaze over.
hope it all goes well, best wishes.
hey birgit, thats really great, hope it all goes well. i know wots its like (as im sure alot of other HOPpers and ppl do) when no one understadns really wot u do. im doin my MA in anthropology, after doin a double BSc in zoology and ecology, when ever i see my family, they always ask me wot im odin, they never understand. finding language for the average person to understand can be quite tricky while maintaining all the ideas and concepts associated with one single word that we (academics-cringe, i hate that word) use all the time. i try talkni to my flatmate sometimes, but after the first sentence i can just see the eyes glaze over.
hope it all goes well, best wishes.
It took a while, but once their numbers dropped from 50 down to 8, the other dwarves started to suspect Hungry.
Ed: geek, staffer, past participle
122 posts
Location: London, UK
122 posts
Location: London, UK
Posted:
I work in science communication!! It's a fantastically rewarding field full of lovely people.
Hope you enjoy the course.
I work in science communication!! It's a fantastically rewarding field full of lovely people.
Hope you enjoy the course.
Pooh-Bah
2,354 posts
Location: Away from home
2,354 posts
Location: Away from home
Posted:
Hey Birgit,
Have you gone on the uni's transkills "communicating science to non-specialists" course yet?
I think it's run by some of the same people who are involved in this scheme and it's great fun (I even won a T-shirt for my presentation that involved beating a small fluffy dinosaur round the head with a plastic mallet to demonstrate pest-control )
Oh, I just looked it up and the course doesn't run again til the Autumn, but it is a great way to establish what avenues are open to you in persuing this sort of thing further. We did lots of fun stuff including giving a radio interview and blowing up hot water bottles with dry ice. Your Beltane experience will be a fine help too when it comes to the standing up and being silly bits
Good luck with getting on that scheme.
Hey Birgit,
Have you gone on the uni's transkills "communicating science to non-specialists" course yet?
I think it's run by some of the same people who are involved in this scheme and it's great fun (I even won a T-shirt for my presentation that involved beating a small fluffy dinosaur round the head with a plastic mallet to demonstrate pest-control
)Oh, I just looked it up and the course doesn't run again til the Autumn, but it is a great way to establish what avenues are open to you in persuing this sort of thing further. We did lots of fun stuff including giving a radio interview and blowing up hot water bottles with dry ice. Your Beltane experience will be a fine help too when it comes to the standing up and being silly bits
Good luck with getting on that scheme.
BRONZE Member
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
Posted:
I will go on that course... it was encouraged that we do so by my prof this week, and now he'll have to live with Paul and me going to most of them I think Especially that one for me, and probably a lot of the businessy-management-y ones, and I think I might even pick up some html and unix. Of course that might change as soon as the institute has moved and I'll be really busy with experiments...
I will go on that course... it was encouraged that we do so by my prof this week, and now he'll have to live with Paul and me going to most of them I think
Especially that one for me, and probably a lot of the businessy-management-y ones, and I think I might even pick up some html and unix. Of course that might change as soon as the institute has moved and I'll be really busy with experiments... "vices are like genitals - most are ugly to behold, and yet we find that our own are dear to us."
(G.W. Dahlquist)
Owner of Dragosani's left half
BRONZE Member
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
Posted:
Right, I'll have my interview this afternoon, so wish me luck!!
I also need to have an opinion on science communication, and I figure mine isn't going to be enough (it's something like yes, it's good, I wanna do it). I have to talk about myself (can do that) and any science communication events I've attended (zero so far, hope that doesn't count too much against me...)
Does anyone else have an opinion about science communication?
God, this reminds me of Coupling, when Steve couldn't decide if he had an opinion on pattern books for living room furniture or not... ("I thought I had an opinion about this one." "What was it?" "Don't know, it's gone.") as long as I don't repeat his rant on cushions at the interview I should be fine though
Right, I'll have my interview this afternoon, so wish me luck!!
I also need to have an opinion on science communication, and I figure mine isn't going to be enough (it's something like yes, it's good, I wanna do it). I have to talk about myself (can do that) and any science communication events I've attended (zero so far, hope that doesn't count too much against me...)
Does anyone else have an opinion about science communication?
God, this reminds me of Coupling, when Steve couldn't decide if he had an opinion on pattern books for living room furniture or not... ("I thought I had an opinion about this one." "What was it?" "Don't know, it's gone.") as long as I don't repeat his rant on cushions at the interview I should be fine though
"vices are like genitals - most are ugly to behold, and yet we find that our own are dear to us."
(G.W. Dahlquist)
Owner of Dragosani's left half
Pooh-Bah
1,662 posts
Location: Bristol
1,662 posts
Location: Bristol
Posted:
wow, well i think it sounds fascinating.
i was rubbish at science at school, i just don't have the brain i think, but i really desperately wanted to understand it. i think it's important for creative brains to get that stuff too, i mean, you need both persectives on the universe, and understanding science opens up so much more beauty that is hidden.
it sounds like the kind of thing i'd really like to go to.
well there you go....you can use me as a case study i guess! lol
good luck anywey, aounds like a really worthwhile thing.
wow, well i think it sounds fascinating.
i was rubbish at science at school, i just don't have the brain i think, but i really desperately wanted to understand it. i think it's important for creative brains to get that stuff too, i mean, you need both persectives on the universe, and understanding science opens up so much more beauty that is hidden.
it sounds like the kind of thing i'd really like to go to.
well there you go....you can use me as a case study i guess! lol
good luck anywey, aounds like a really worthwhile thing.
I had a dream that my friend had a
strong-bad pop up book,
it was the book of my dreams.
BRONZE Member
old hand
1,107 posts
Location: In a test pit, Mackay, Australia
old hand
1,107 posts
Location: In a test pit, Mackay, Australia
Posted:
We just turned down a guy for a job here; great degree, good research, some experience.
Couldn't look you in the eye when you were talking to him. Communication is important within the science community too.
Have fun, that's the important thing
We just turned down a guy for a job here; great degree, good research, some experience.
Couldn't look you in the eye when you were talking to him. Communication is important within the science community too.
Have fun, that's the important thing
There is a slight possibility that I am not actually right all of the time.
Stalking amidst the desert, carrying an oversized scalpel...
1,019 posts
Location: Huddersfield + Hull Uni... UK.
1,019 posts
Location: Huddersfield + Hull Uni... UK.
Posted:
That's my problem too. I'm not looking forward to the "real world". Being a student is easy, interviews etc aren't...
Written by: Eera
We just turned down a guy for a job here; great degree, good research, some experience.
Couldn't look you in the eye when you were talking to him. Communication is important within the science community too.
Have fun, that's the important thing
That's my problem too. I'm not looking forward to the "real world". Being a student is easy, interviews etc aren't...
Willy - is bad for your health...
BRONZE Member
chemical attraction
1,097 posts
Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England
chemical attraction
1,097 posts
Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England
Posted:
Sounds really cool,good luck with that.
Sounds really cool,good luck with that.
BRONZE Member
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
Posted:
Got the job
Teehee, it's not much of a job, but it's around 500 quid if I work the full 8 events I'm "allowed" to do, and it should be fun!
I mentioned the juggling and firestuff... there's a science festival in Edinburgh next spring, and they want someone to do "science busking" and asked if I'd like to do it
I have NO clue whatsoever how, but I'll try and think of something fancy, with chemicals and colours and smoke and fire
Also, I'll try setting up my own project. I'd like to do something in the Blind School since I'm there every week for choir and the kids are fantastic... was thinking about some touchy smelly experience
(Can anyone tell I'm happy??)
Got the job
Teehee, it's not much of a job, but it's around 500 quid if I work the full 8 events I'm "allowed" to do, and it should be fun!
I mentioned the juggling and firestuff... there's a science festival in Edinburgh next spring, and they want someone to do "science busking" and asked if I'd like to do it
I have NO clue whatsoever how, but I'll try and think of something fancy, with chemicals and colours and smoke and fire Also, I'll try setting up my own project. I'd like to do something in the Blind School since I'm there every week for choir and the kids are fantastic... was thinking about some touchy smelly experience
(Can anyone tell I'm happy??)
"vices are like genitals - most are ugly to behold, and yet we find that our own are dear to us."
(G.W. Dahlquist)
Owner of Dragosani's left half
Stalking amidst the desert, carrying an oversized scalpel...
1,019 posts
Location: Huddersfield + Hull Uni... UK.
1,019 posts
Location: Huddersfield + Hull Uni... UK.
Posted:
Fantastic.
Fantastic.
Willy - is bad for your health...
BRONZE Member
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
Posted:
Bumpety-BUMMMMMPPPPPP!
I've now started a yahoo group for science communication, with the aim of getting people (possibly) around the world to link up and help each other with ideas, advice, answering questions and planning career moves to do with science communication. It'll also potentially be a good resource of materials for students wanting to improve their marks by spicing presentations etc up a bit, because we'll at some point have links to good science sites and lots of stuff about presentation skills.
If anyone's interested to join up and to have been there from the embryo stages please pm me your email addy and I'll send you an invite
Bumpety-BUMMMMMPPPPPP!
I've now started a yahoo group for science communication, with the aim of getting people (possibly) around the world to link up and help each other with ideas, advice, answering questions and planning career moves to do with science communication. It'll also potentially be a good resource of materials for students wanting to improve their marks by spicing presentations etc up a bit, because we'll at some point have links to good science sites and lots of stuff about presentation skills.
If anyone's interested to join up and to have been there from the embryo stages please pm me your email addy and I'll send you an invite
"vices are like genitals - most are ugly to behold, and yet we find that our own are dear to us."
(G.W. Dahlquist)
Owner of Dragosani's left half
A little bit of a board whore
147 posts
Location: Glasgow
147 posts
Location: Glasgow
Posted:
If you get the chance though, why not try and do the lab demonstrating too.
I've done a bit of science communication (to kids of ages ranging from 5 to 15), and a lot of lab demonstrating (to undergraduates). It's just as difficult to explain things to undergraduates as it is to five year olds, because of assumed knowledge. Plus, it might help you become better at a range of communication.
I know a number of lecturers who are great at explaining things to their peers, great at talking to kids, but when it comes to teaching uni students (which is what they're meant to be doing), then they fall down somewhat.
If you get the chance though, why not try and do the lab demonstrating too.
I've done a bit of science communication (to kids of ages ranging from 5 to 15), and a lot of lab demonstrating (to undergraduates). It's just as difficult to explain things to undergraduates as it is to five year olds, because of assumed knowledge. Plus, it might help you become better at a range of communication.
I know a number of lecturers who are great at explaining things to their peers, great at talking to kids, but when it comes to teaching uni students (which is what they're meant to be doing), then they fall down somewhat.
Ancient wiseman say "It is very strange person, who, when left alone in room with teacosy, does not try it on"
BRONZE Member
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)
Posted:
Nah, done that already, it was cool but it won't work here... the problem is I'd lose lots of time because my institute is in the middle of nowhere, and the group where I could demonstrate is 1 hour by bus away... which basically means I'd lose nearly a day for a few hours demonstrating, and that just doesn't go with doing a PhD. I'd rather do what I'm doing now, when I can pick the date, and do stuff Mondays or Fridays so I can go in the lab on the weekends if I have to do a 5-day-experiment (minimum wages? what's that??? 
)
Nah, done that already, it was cool but it won't work here... the problem is I'd lose lots of time because my institute is in the middle of nowhere, and the group where I could demonstrate is 1 hour by bus away... which basically means I'd lose nearly a day for a few hours demonstrating, and that just doesn't go with doing a PhD. I'd rather do what I'm doing now, when I can pick the date, and do stuff Mondays or Fridays so I can go in the lab on the weekends if I have to do a 5-day-experiment
(minimum wages? what's that??? ) "vices are like genitals - most are ugly to behold, and yet we find that our own are dear to us."
(G.W. Dahlquist)
Owner of Dragosani's left half
© 1998 - 2025 Home of Poi
All prices converted to United States dollars using XE.com