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Let's Talk SciComm

Unimelb SciComm

Hosted by Associate Professor Jen Martin and Dr Michael Wheeler, Let’s Talk SciComm is a podcast from the University of Melbourne’s Science Communication Teaching Program. Listen for advice, tips and interviews about how to communicate science in effective and engaging ways.
Show notes, transcripts and more info: https://science.unimelb.edu.au/engage/lets-talk-scicomm-podcast

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  • 24 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 19 min
  • English

Episodes 24

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  • S18 · E4
    April 23 · 6 min

    136. Listen To This If… You Need To Prepare for Question Time

    Question time can feel like the most unpredictable - and nerve-wracking - part of giving a talk. You’ve prepared your slides, rehearsed your key points… but what about the questions you can’t anticipate? In this episode, Jen and Michael share practical strategies to help you approach Q&A with more confidence (and maybe even enjoyment). They discuss why it’s okay not to have all the answers, how to respond to challenging or “prickly” questions, and how a little preparation can go a long way. From planning for the questions you’re most worried about to strategically inviting the ones you want, this episode reframes question time as an opportunity rather than a threat. Ultimately, Q&A isn’t a test, it’s a chance to engage, get feedback, and continue the conversation. You can find more great advice here: https://www.animateyour.science/post/how-to-answer-questions-after-a-research-presentation https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3059906/ https://patthomson.net/2011/09/03/answering-audience-questions-at-conferences/ Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/ms72

  • S18 · E3
    April 16 · 32 min

    135. Interview with parasitologist and artist Dr Tommy Leung

    In this weeks' episode we had a fascinating chat with Dr Tommy Leung who is a parasitologist interested in the ecological and evolutionary facets of parasitism. Their research covers a range of parasite-related topics including macroecological patterns of parasitism, parasite community composition, parasite-host interactions, and disease ecology. The aim of their research is to shed light on a ubiquitous but often overlooked aspect of biodiversity. Tommy is also passionate about communicating parasitology and some of the lesser-known aspects of zoology to the general public. They write the Parasite of the Day blog, and has written multiple articles about parasites for The Conversation. They have also appeared on radio segments and podcasts, and is currently the social media editor for the Journal of Helminthology. You can follow Tommy and find out more about their work here: Parasite of the Day blog: https://dailyparasite.blogspot.com/ Tommy's articles on The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/profiles/tommy-leung-106786/articles Tommy's Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=TyMT3ggAAAAJ&hl=en BlueSky account: https://bsky.app/profile/the-episiarch.bsky.social Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/fs72

  • S18 · E2
    April 9 · 6 min

    134. Listen To This If…You Get Invited To Talk With A Journalist

    Being invited to speak with a journalist is both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. In this episode, Jen and Michael chat about how to approach media interviews with confidence while staying in control of your message. They emphasise the importance of knowing your key points before you begin, while also being prepared for conversations to take unexpected turns. Michael shares a “walking the dog” analogy to capture this balance: having a clear direction, but knowing how to guide things back when needed. The episode also explores how interviews are often edited into short grabs, making clarity essential, and highlights the importance of setting boundaries when questions stray beyond your expertise. If you’re preparing for a media interview, this episode offers practical advice to help you stay focused, flexible, and confident. You can find more great advice here: https://sciencemediasavvy.org/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2666869625000016 https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/wp-content/upload/2014/04/SMC-Desk-Guide-for-Scientists.pdf Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/hs72

  • S18 · E1
    April 2 · 33 min

    133. Interview with science communicator Emma Donnelly

    Welcome to Season 18 of Let’s Talk SciComm! We’re excited to be launching our new season with a fantastic conversation with scicomm guru Emma Donnelly. Emma is a science communication specialist, leadership trainer and coach with more than 25 years’ experience helping researchers and technical experts translate expertise into influence. She is Manager of Inspiring Victoria at the Royal Society of Victoria, works with the Association for Tertiary Education Management, and runs her consultancy, Comm-it: Training and Communication Solutions. Emma has worked across the higher education sector nationally, including with the University of Melbourne, Monash University, UNSW, the University of Sydney, Curtin University, UWA and RMIT. She’s coached Prime Minister Science Prize winners and been the national FameLab consultant and trainer for several years. Her work in citizen science, research translation and engagement has been recognised through national and state awards, including the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes and the WA Premier’s Science Awards. Earlier in her career, she brought food science into mainstream media through work connected with My Kitchen Rules, and developed Eat Drink Think, a cookbook and program translating the science of food and flavour for public audiences. Today, Emma works with founders, scientists, researchers and university leaders to elevate pitching, storytelling, stakeholder engagement and leadership presence. Her warm, inclusive and evidence-based approach has supported thousands of professionals to build confidence, build trust and amplify their impact. Emma believes that great ideas only travel as far as your communication allows them to. You can follow Emma and find out more about her work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmadonnelly1 https://www.linkedin.com/company/comm-it-aus/ https://www.youtube.com/@comm-it https://x.com/commitAUS https://www.facebook.com/commitaust/ www.comm-it.com.au Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/2s72

Showing 21–24 of 24 episodes