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SCIENCE COMMUNICATION: UK EXPERIENCE here.

22 FEBRUARY 2022

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Overview articles in Czech and English. 

PROGRAMME

Morning session (9:30 - 12:00)

9:30 - 9:45 / Introduction: Milena Králíčková, Nick Archer

9:45 - 10:25 / Iain Stewart: Repurposing Science Communication for Sustainable Human Progress

10:25 - 11:05 / Christiana Vagnoni: Communicating science to policymakers insights from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

11:05 - 11:25 / coffee break

11:25 - 12:05 / Adam Hart: The Bother of Bugs - insects as a model for tricky science communication

12:05 - 13:05 - lunch break

Afternoon session (13:05 - 16:00)

13:05 - 14:05 / Stephen Webster, Anna Onderková, Dave Warrell and Urszula Kaczorowská: Perspectives from Imperial College on Science Communication

14:05 - 14:25 / coffee break

14:25 - 15:05 / Fiona Fox: Science in the headlines: Where science meets controversy

15:05 - 15:45 / Malcolm Love: Communicating science in a climate of fake news, conspiracy theories and tribalism

15:45 - 16:00 / Wrap-up and close

Moderator: Aleš Vlk

Speakers:

Iain Stewart is the El Hassan bin Talal Research Chair in Sustainability at the Royal Scientific Society (Amman, Jordan), Co-Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability at Ashoka University, India, and Professor of Geoscience Communication at the University of Plymouth. The founding director of the University of Plymouth's 'Sustainable Earth Institute', Iain's long-standing research interests are in natural hazards, sustainable geoscience, and earth science communication. His geo-communication work has built on a 15 year partnership with BBC television presenting geoscience programmes(notably 'Earth: The Power of the Planet', 'Earth: The Climate Wars', 'How Earth Made Us', 'How To Grow A Planet', 'The Rise of the Continents' and 'Planet Oil) and recently was academic advisor on the BBC's acclaimed landmark series 'Severn Worlds, One Planet'. Awarded an MBE for his services to geography and geology education, he is President of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, and was Communications Lead and Evidence Chair for the Scottish Government's Climate Citizen's Assembly. A global champion of Earth science, Iain holds a UNESCO Chair in Geoscience and Society, and leads the UNESCO International Geoscience Programme project on Geology and Sustainable Development.

Cristiana Vagnoni is a Biological Sciences and Health Adviser at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), a bicameral body within the UK Parliament whose key role is to make scientific research accessible to Parliamentarians. Before joining POST, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford, working on brain development and connectivity. Cristiana holds a PhD in Neuroscience and an MSc in Neuroscience from the University of Oxford, and an MSc in Molecular Biotechnologies and a BSc in Biotechnologies from the University of Turin. Beside academic research, she has experience in policy research, the charity sector, teaching, science communication and outreach. Her current role mainly involves the production of succinct, impartial and accessible summaries of research evidence for MPs and Peers. She covers a wide range of health and biology topics, including infectious diseases, biotechnologies, food sciences and mental health.

Adam Hart is Professor of Science Communication at the University of Gloucestershire, where he teaches ecology, field biology, citizen science, and communication. An active researcher, he studies African ecology, conservation, and insect science with a special focus on insects that live socially. For the last ten years he has been using citizen science methods to work with the public to collect data for projects involving ants, spiders, birds and wasps. A Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society and chair of their Outreach Committee, he helps to organise the annual Insect Week, an international outreach event celebrating insects. He is also a frequent broadcaster on BBC Radio 4 and other outlets. His most recent series for BBC World Service is Tooth and Claw, examining our tricky relationship with predators. His latest popular science book, Unfit for Purpose, looks at how we struggle to fit into a world of our own making.

Stephen Webster has been director of the Science Communication Unit since 2008. His teaching is in the philosophy of science and his research concerns the nature of the scientific virtues. Anna Onderková completed her medical education at the First Faculty of Medicine in Prague. She worked as a foundation doctor in the UK before coming to Imperial College tostudy for the MSc Science Communication. She has a particular interest in head and neck surgery, with publications in both otorhinolaryngology and oral and maxillofacial surgery. In her current role as postgraduate student, a key interest for Anna is the cross-over between science communication ideas and best medical practice. Dave Warrell graduated from the Imperial Science Communication MSc in 2021 and now works in policy. His first degree was in biochemistry. Dave is currently a policy consultant to Imperial's new Institute of Infection, where he is authoring a report on scientific advice in climates of uncertainty. Urszula Kaczorowská is Visiting Researcher in the Science Communication Unit, and a staff member of the science section of the Polish Press Agency. Previously Urszulawas co-ordinator of Polish FameLab, and and has worked in television and radio. She trained in journalism at Collegium Civitas, Warsaw. As a science communication teacher Urszula specialisesin interviewing skills. 

Is the science journalist a representative of science, or a critical friend? How can the humanities and the social sciences enrich science/society relations? Will involvement in public engagement make you a better scientist? And, after the pandemic, how can universities develop a nation's science communication capacity? Our four panelists, comprising an academic, a journalist, a doctor and a policy analyst, are all members of the science Communication Unit. Together with questions from delegates on the day, our conversation will be a lively exploration of some key debates.

Fiona Fox has a degree in journalism and many years of experience working in media relations for high profile national organisations. Her career includes stints working for, amongst others, the Equal Opportunities Committee, the National Council for One Parent Families, and CAFOD (a leading aid agency). The founding director of the Science Media Centre when it was established in 2002, under Fiona's leadership the Centre has become an indispensable resource for science journalists. The Centre provides scientific context and comment from some of the UK's top scientists for many major news stories thanks to the Centre's media database, which has over 2300 such experts on it. Fiona is a regular commentator on science in the media and was the only representative from the scientific community invited to give evidence at the Levenson Inquiry into press standards in the UK in 2012. She is an outspoken champion for openness in science and, as part of this, led a successful campaign in 2017 for changes to the British Government's purdah rules, ensuring government funded scientists are free to speak out during election periods. Fiona has received many accolades for her services to science, including an OBE, honorary fellowships of the Academy of Medical Science, the Royal Society of Biology and the British Pharmacology Society. She has received awards from the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology and the British Neuroscience Association, and a special award from Understanding Animal Research for promoting openness in animal research.

Malcolm Love is an independent producer, radio presenter, lecturer in public engagement and a public communication skills coach and trainer, formerly a senior producer (programme maker) at the BBC. He specialises in helping scientists, researchers and other academics communicate their work through talks, events, radio and TV and the internet. His clients include well known organisations such as ESA, NASA, CERN, British Academy, FENS (representing European Neuroscience) and numerous universities. Malcolm was one of the early developers of FameLaband was lead trainer for 'FameLab' and 'FameLabInternational' for many years. He lives with his partner Becky in the North West of England and together they manage their company 'Solid Gold Hat Ltd'.

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