Maureen Williams is a postdoctoral researcher in the Wood Lab at the University of Washington. She completed her PhD with Dr. Ian Donohue and Prof. Celia Holland in the Zoology Department of Trinity College Dublin, where she studied the impact of behaviour-manipulating parasites on their ecosystems.
Latest posts by Maureen Williams (see all)
Today’s post features Mo’s Guide to SciComm in Ireland, written by Maureen Williams based on her four years of PhD research and outreach. These are great opportunities for any Dublin-based PhD students, but check them out even if that’s not you. There’s definitely something you can learn from these events, whether as a participant or an audience member!
Maureen says: “Most of the people who run these events are INCREDIBLY kind and helpful. If you’re passionate about any of these, and have more questions, I’m happy to help.”
FameLab
- FameLab is the world’s leading science communication competition. Explain something about science in 3 minutes. Free to sign up, there’s a TCD heat (so you don’t have to travel) and if you make it to nationals, there’s science communication training in the HILTON!!! (for free) that is really excellent.
- Slides? No
- Time Commitment: Minimum 1 evening, maximum 2 evenings & a weekend plus time to prep/practice your talk.
- Website: https://www.britishcouncil.ie/famelab
Pint of Science
- Pint of Science invites scientists to your favourite local bars to discuss their latest research and discoveries over a drink or two. Pint of Science is usually happy to have people organizing the event as well as speaking at the events. They’re longer talks (20-40 minutes) but are still pretty snappy. The organizing committee would suit anyone with time and interest!
- Slides? Yes
- Time Commitment: For organizing- A few months meeting infrequently; For Speaking- one evening
- Website: https://pintofscience.ie/
Bright Club
- Bright Club is a variety night for lateral minds, where researchers become comedians for a night! Each event features academics from science, humanities, and social science talking about their work alongside professional comedians and musicians. With comedy, music and more besides, Bright Club is the only variety night where you’ll furrow your brow before laughing your face off. Basically, it’s stand-up comedy and science put together.
- Slides? No
- Time Commitment: Prep time (a few hours) and then about 4-6 hours on the night
- Website: http://brightclub.ie/
Inspirefest – Researchfest
- Three minutes to present your research to some of the brightest minds in Europe! Can you condense your research into three minutes of accessible, engaging chat? If so, you could find yourself on the Inspirefest stage this year. Researchfest is back and looking for PhD candidates who can present their research in plain language. This year’s winner will score themselves one-to-one communication training, the starring role in a feature on Silicon Republic and the chance to present on the main stage at Inspirefest this summer.
- Slides? No
- Time Commitment: Prep time (a few hours to write/practice talk), 1 hour coaching session, a few hours (or a full day) on the day of event
- Website: Here’s last year’s Silicon Republic article, but check your email, the InspireFest website, and their Twitter for dates.
Probe
- TCD’s European Researchers Night “Science Festival”. It’s run by the Science Gallery and has had more of a budget in recent years. You can set up a stand in Front Square and talk to people about your science! Check with the Science Gallery if you’d like to participate (the email address is probe@dublin.sciencegallery.com) or read Eco Evo’s post on this year’s event!
- Slides? Possible, not hugely recommended
- Time Commitment: Prep time & half a day + and evening on the day of.
- Website: https://www.tcd.ie/research/probe/
Skype a Scientist
- Skype a Scientist matches scientists with classrooms around the world! Scientists will skype into the classroom for 30-60 minute Q and A sessions that can cover the scientist’s expertise or what it’s like to be a scientist. This is possibly my favourite- it’s INCREDIBLY rewarding and invigorating to speak with the students and it’s a very low time commitment to do so.
- Slides? Not recommended
- Time Commitment: An hour or two prep, an hour or so talking
- Website: https://www.skypeascientist.com/
I’m a Scientist- Get me Out of Here
- A free online event where school students connect with scientists. It’s an X Factor-style competition between scientists, where the students are the judges. Students challenge the scientists over fast-paced online live CHATs. They ASK the scientists anything they want, and VOTE for their favourite scientist to win a prize of €500 to communicate their work with the public.
- Slides? No
- Time Commitment: A LOT. About 4 hours/day over two weeks.
- Website: https://imascientist.ie/
Letters to a Pre-Scientist
- A pen-pal programme which matches students with scientists to write short letters four times over the course of a year. It’s AWESOME.
- Slides? No
- Time Commitment: A few hours over a year & a 1 hour training session
- Website: http://www.prescientist.org/
PubHD
- PubhD Ireland is a monthly, free event that brings together PhD students from universities & colleges from all over Ireland across a range of disciplines to share their work in ten-minute presentations, with an additional 20 minutes for friendly questions and answers. Hosted in various pubs around Dublin & run by some really nice people. It’s pretty easy-going and very informal.
- Slides? No
- Time Commitment: Talk prep + an evening
- Website: https://www.pubhd.ie/
Biotweeps
- Twitter account with 17k followers. The account has a new host each which who interacts and shares science info! It’s fun to follow even if you decide not to curate. It’s a really broad audience which can be really fun!
- Slides? No, but definitely visuals.
- Time Commitment: It’s pretty full on when you’re on for the week. I’d recommend following for whenever they have a cancellation and let people take a day- it’s a lot less stress.
- Website: https://twitter.com/biotweeps for the account; https://biotweep.wordpress.com/ to sign up
Sci:Com
- A one-day conference on Science Communication held in Dublin annually. It’s supposed to be really engaging and a lot of fun. I’ve not yet had the chance to go.
- Slides? No
- Time Commitment: One day
- Website: https://www.scicom.ie/
Higher Options
- Higher Options is a “University Fair” to give students the chance to see courses, universities, and jobs. SFI often need speakers, as do TCD. You can contact SFI to see if they need help.
- Slides? YES
- Time Commitment: Depends on activity! An hour or two?
- Website: https://www.irishtimes.com/higher-options
Cool Science and Curious Minds
- A podcast financed by the Irish Research Council and broadcast over East Coast FM. It’s currently in the top 10 Science podcasts on iTunes (which is IMPRESSIVE). Join Sean Duke, The Cool Scientist, from the Declan Meehan Morning Show on East Coast FM, for his new podcast, Cool Science and Curious Minds. They tend to put out calls on Twitter to be interviewed. They’re mega nice and it’s an easy conversation.
- Slides? No
- Time Commitment: 2-4 hours total
- Website: https://soundcloud.com/user-53226897
______________
About the Author
Maureen Williams studies the impact of behaviour-manipulating parasites on their ecosystems as a PhD student with Dr. Ian Donohue and Prof. Celia Holland. She’s based in the Zoology Department at Trinity College Dublin when she’s not in the River Shannon. Find out more about her research here:
Website | Maureenannewilliams.weebly.
Twitter | @modubs11
ResearchGate | Profile
LinkedIn | Profile
Google Scholar | Profile
One Reply to “Science Communication Opportunities”