How to Engage the Public in Complicated Topics

Episode 3: Biomedical Science

(video and more content coming soon - page under construction)

This podcast explores the communicative skills developed by taking the Biomedical Science module, ‘Engaging the Public in Science’.  We’ll hear how engaging the public involves empowering the audience with the ultimate goal of building trust in science. 

Sia, a bio-medical student tells us how she helped counter vaccine hesitancy among her own community with clear and simple communication, plenty of patience and an open mind.  Our panellists discuss how crucial, yet how tricky, it can be to communicate science to a lay audience and give practical tips, telling us of their struggles as well as successes.  

Laura, a bio-medicine alumni, talks about the importance of reading non-verbal communicative cues and the need to listen carefully rather than jumping in to speak. On the Engaging the Public in Science module, students visit a science-based museum and must reflect on much how the science is communicated and how the trip made them feel. Such work demands empathy and our panellists have some wonderful advice about putting yourself in other people’s shoes and how seeing things from other perspectives can advance your own.