Talks About Science Communication

I was delighted to be asked to give a Public Program Session, incorporating a talk and Q&A session on Putting Your Best Virtual Foot Forward at the virtual AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Annual Meeting on February 9th 2021. This included giving advice on science writing for websites, blogs and social media, as well as demonstrating useful kit and software for presenting online, such as the tripod in the photo below.

Sharon Ann giving AAAS talk
Copyright: Sharon Ann Holgate

Since 2019, I have given a presentation about science writing and broadcasting as part of my duties as a Guest Educator on the Science Communications Module for fourth year MSci and MSc physics students at King’s College London.

Previously, I gave the talk From Thermoluminescence to Time TravelLife as a Science Writer and Broadcaster for physics students and researchers at Rhodes University in South Africa in May 2011. I delivered the talk via video link, and enjoyed answering questions from the audience in the webcam Q and A session afterwards. Also using a video link, I gave a short talk entitled A Crash Course in Science Writing in February 2014 for physics students at Imperial College London.

In February 2004, I made an enjoyable trip to the University of Sussex (where I was, at that time, a Visiting Fellow in Physics and Astronomy) to give a talk on Science Writing as a Career. This was part of a special careers day for physics students that highlighted the range of careers open to them.

Later in 2004 I gave another talk on the theme of science writing—this time for professional science writers—as part of a workshop forum discussing what life is really like for a freelance science writer. This workshop formed part of the Association of British Science Writers’ Freelance Business Skills Training Day.

I would be happy to talk about science journalism, writing a textbook, or other aspects of this profession to societies, universities, colleges or groups.