Let's Talk SciComm

This week we loved chatting with Bec Colless, who has 30+ years’ experience in science communication, research translation and IP commercialisation, public and stakeholder relations, education and marketing. She has enhanced the reputations, funding and impact of universities and research organisations, innovative businesses – including her own travelling science show – government agencies, non-profits, museums and schools. Drawing on her decades of experience across science, journalism, government, industry and education, Bec shares practical advice on research impact, persuasive writing, value propositions and storytelling and why great communication always starts with empathy for your audience. From grant writing and credibility to Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle and the hero’s journey, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for researchers at every career stage. You can follow Bec and learn more about her work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-colless/ Subscribe to our podcast newsletter, The ChitChat: https://mailchi.mp/06154eb97b24/welcome-to-lets-talk-scicomm

Struggling to grab your audience’s attention? In this week’s episode, Jen and Michael break down exactly what makes a killer headline - one that cuts through the noise, hooks your reader instantly, and sets up your story for impact.In just five minutes, you’ll learn:Why your headline matters more than you thinkThe science of what makes people stop scrollingSimple, repeatable headline formulas you can use todayHow to avoid the common traps that make headlines fall flatWays to tailor your headline to different audiences without losing clarityWhether you’re writing a journal article title, a grant application, or a social media post, these tips will help you craft headlines that are bold, clear, and irresistible.You can find more great advice here:https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/08/readers-prefer-to-click-on-a-clear-simple-headline-like-this-one/https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00771-3https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2024/06/msu-research-what-makes-a-good-headlinehttps://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn2555

This week we were thrilled to chat with Dr Véronique Paris who is a medical entomologist studying Australian vector mosquitoes in the Pest & Environmental Adaptation Research Group at Melbourne Uni. Originally from Berlin, Véronique completed her BSc and MSc in Biology, specialising in ecological immunology and exploring how insect immune systems respond to infections. Before pursuing a scientific career, she completed an apprenticeship at the Berlin Zoo, a time when she was unsure if going to university was the right path for her. Ultimately she discovered a passion for research and went on to pursue higher education. Véronique is also passionate about science communication, contributing to Pursuit, writing blog posts, and sharing her research widely on social media. Recently, the Let’s Talk SciComm team was over the moon to share the University of Melbourne School of BioSciences Excellence in Community Engagement with Véronique! You can follow Véronique and learn more about her work here: https://www.instagram.com/mozzienique/https://bsky.app/profile/mozzienique.bsky.socialhttps://www.tiktok.com/@vroniqueparis6https://www.linkedin.com/in/v%C3%A9ronique-paris-bb25a1255/https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/individuals/veronique-parishttps://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/23/mosquito-borne-disease-fight-researcher-bare-armTranscript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/an62

If you’ve just been hit with negative feedback, you’re probably feeling a bit winded, and that’s completely normal. Whether it came from a colleague, a supervisor, an examiner, or even a friend, criticism can sting.Take five minutes to hear Jen and Michael share practical, compassionate advice on how to regain your confidence and transform tough feedback into something constructive and empowering.You can find more great advice here:https://theconversation.com/negative-feedback-is-part-of-academia-and-life-these-6-strategies-can-help-you-cope-190069https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-handle-negative-feedback-recover-like-pro-may-busch/https://wwmr.us/support/NegativeFeedback.pdfSubscribe to our podcast newsletter, The ChitChat: https://letstalkscicomm.my.canva.siteTranscript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/6ba2

Welcome to Season 16 of Let’s Talk SciComm. We are thrilled to be launching our next season and have a great selection of episodes in store for you to enjoy during the rest of 2025.We can’t think of any better way to launch the season than a conversation with Dr Phil Dooley. Phil is an extremely talented science communicator who wears many hats: he’s a science writer, presenter, comedian, performer, musician, video-maker and trainer. He's worked on YouTube videos that got hundreds of thousands of hits, tweets that saw millions of impressions, press releases that went international, school workshops for thousands of students and science pub nights that had crowds cheering for more.Phil has a PhD in laser physics and is National President of Australian Science Communicators. Phil Up On Science partners and clients have included Australian Institute of Physics, Academy of Science, Australian Society for Medical Research, Inspiring Australia, National Science Week, Cosmos Magazine, Nature Publishing Group, Geosciences Australia, ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science, ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society, University of Adelaide, Flinders University, UniSA, Sustainable Stand Up and more.You’re going to love hearing about Phil’s creative and dynamic approach to sharing science with a whole heap of different audiences. You can follow Phil and learn more about his work here: https://philuponscience.com.au/ https://www.youtube.com/philuponsciencehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-dooley-0963366/ https://bsky.app/profile/philuponscience.bsky.social https://physics.anu.edu.au/news_events/news.php Subscribe to our podcast newsletter, The ChitChat: https://letstalkscicomm.my.canva.siteTranscript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/z6a2