Science Communication Training Day 2013

12 June 2013

The Biochemical Society, Society for Experimental Biology and the Society of Biology are partnering to organize a unique bioscience communication training workshop for doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers. The workshop will enhance participants’ skills and help to demonstrate the impact and benefits of their research to schools and the public. Attendees will be shown interactive ways to deliver activities and use resources so that they feel more confident to engage with broader audiences.

Application deadline: 1 May 2013.

Appplication is now closed. If you wish to attend this event, please contact conferences@biochemistry.org

Attendance at the Science Communication Training Day is by application only. Success is not guaranteed, and travel arrangements should not be made until acceptance is confirmed.

Attendance at this event is FREE of charge for members of the organizing Societies and is £35 for non members. Registration includes refreshments and lunch on the day.

Join a Society to benefit from free attendance:

Biochemical Society

Society for Experimental Biology

Society of Biology

Download flyer

Facilitators and programme

Jennifer Rohn – Keynote speaker

Jennifer Rohn is a group leader at UCL, and a science writer, journalist, novelist, broadcaster, science campaigner and pundit. She blogs about the scientific life at Mind The Gap and on The Guardian. She is founder and chair of Science is Vital, the grassroots organization that campaigns for UK scientists. Her novels about scientists, both published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, are Experimental Heart and The Honest Look.

Alexandra Fragniere - Film Editor at BlueSci

Alexandra is a postdoc at Cambridge University researching the neurodegenerative diseases Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. She is also film editor at BlueSci (http://www.bluesci.org), a science communication organization. Her most recent film focuses on current research into the neural basis of gender differences (www.optogenetics.com) while her previous film (www.microscope.com) was inspired by a talk given by Dr Brad Amos of Cambridge University, which charted the history of the development of confocal microscopy.

Amy Cox - Communications Manager at the Biochemical Society

Amy is Communications Manager for the Biochemical Society and Portland Press Limited. As an experienced communications specialist she oversees and develops the organization’s online communication strategy including developing social media profiles for the Society and its journals and overseeing content management and usability of the Society’s website. Amy is also responsible for the Society’s press and PR work, promoting not only the organization but biochemistry as a discipline.

Anne Osterrieder - Research and Science Communication Fellow at Oxford Brookes University

Anne works as a Research and Science Communication Fellow at Oxford Brookes University. When she doesn’t look at plant cells with microscopes, she coordinates public engagement events and runs science communication training sessions for researchers. Anne is especially interested in the use of social media as tool to support research, networking, career development and public engagement. She blogs at http://www.plantcellbiology.com and http://www.extelligenceexperiment.com and tweets under @AnneOsterrieder.

Hannah Hope - Science and Society Officer for the British Society for Immunology

Hannah Hope is the Science and Society Officer for the British Society for Immunology and is responsible for the public engagement and outreach activities of the society. She is interested in science education, the place of science in culture and social empowerment. She produces events at science festivals and careers fairs around the UK for audiences of all ages as well as developing workshops for schools.

James Lush - Athena SWAN Adviser at the Equality Challenge Unit

James works at the Equality Challenge Unit as an Adviser on the Athena SWAN Charter, a scheme which supports the advancement of women in academic STEMM. Prior to this, James worked for two years at the Biochemical Society across a wide range of science policy issues in conjunction with the Society of Biology. James previously worked as a press officer, including at the Medical Research Council, having attained a BSc in Anatomy (University of Glasgow, 2010).

Rebecca Nesbit - Press Officer at the Society of Biology

Rebecca is currently Press Officer for the Society of Biology, where she is in charge of social media and coordination of Biology Week as well as media relations. Before joining the Society in February 2012, Rebecca studied butterfly migration at Rothamsted Research for her PhD, then worked as a PR consultant for science and technology companies in Cambridge. Rebecca’s interests include conservation, ecology and food security.

Tom Ireland - Managing Editor at the Society of Biology

Tom Ireland is managing editor of The Society of Biology, managing the content and production of the Society’s publications The Biologist and The Journal of Biological Education. A former medical journalist, Tom also works as a freelance journalist, editor, and occasional illustrator.

Sarah Blackford, Careers Developmental Professional

Head of Education and Public Affairs, Society for Experimental Biology

Expert guidance and information from Sarah usually makes the process of moving on in your career a lot easier. Sarah Blackford is a qualified careers adviser and coach who provides career development support for Bioscience students and researchers as well as the wider community. Working on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology, and with an additional background in research and science publishing, Sarah also manages the education and training programme, edits the membership's newsletter and handles public relations and policy advocacy.

Nate Adams - Research associate at the University of Sheffield, and freelance science communicator

Nate Adams is a research associate at the University of Sheffield, and does freelance science outreach and communication. He works with professional societies, the BBC as a science busker, and with independent TV presenters. He created and performs the show, Kitchen Science Carnage, at regional science festivals and in schools. As a director of Furnace Park, a curated urban space, he is linking scientists with artists to produce new works.

Tijana Blanusa - Plant Scientist at the Royal Horticultural Society

Tijana Blanusa is a plant scientist working for the Royal Horticultural Society, leading their Urban Greening Research Programme, based at the University of Reading. On behalf of the RHS she frequently engages in communication of research to members and lay audiences (e.g. at Chelsea Flower Show, special garden days, in RHS publications ‘Garden’ and ‘The Plantsman’), occasionally on Radio – ‘Gardeners question time’, ‘Material World’. Tijana is passionate about and experienced in communicating to young school audiences too.

Janice Yelland-Sutcliffe - Education Consultant

Janice Yelland-Sutcliffe, specialises in science education, public engagement and creative communication skills. As a science teacher Janice has worked across all ages within the education sector including, four years (part-time) on the Initial Teacher Training Undergraduate Course at Nottingham Trent University then as the award winning (Lord Dearing Award, 2008) Science Communicator / Engineering Outreach Champion for the University of Nottingham.

Amanda Hardy - Schools and Colleges Officer at Society of Biology

Amanda has been involved in science communication and outreach activities since attending her first science festival in 1991. She gained her PhD from University College London and is a qualified teacher of science with 6 years’ experience of teaching students aged 7-18. Amanda is the Society of Biology’s Schools and Colleges Officer and tweets as @UKBC_SB and @AmandaChemist.