UWA Science Communication

Fresh off the press! Scicomm graduate Crystal Ngo’s Masters research was just published in the Journal of Science Communication:

“It's having conversations that I like with people I like": exploring the motivations of Australian science podcasters

https://jcom.sissa.it/article/pubid/JCOM_2404_2025_A07/

📖 Check it out - it’s open-access!

Huge congratulations to Crystal and her supervisors and co-authors Ann Grand and Heather Bray! 🎉🎉🎉

Abstract:

Science podcasts have become an increasingly popular channel for science communication. Although podcasting has risen in popularity, little is known about why science podcasters choose to pursue this pathway for communication and how they set about achieving their goals for their podcast.

Drawing on qualitative data from interviews with 20 science podcasters in Australia, our results reveal that the podcasters are mainly driven by personal factors such as their interest in, enjoyment of, and curiosity about science and that while they employ various tactics to achieve their goals, they do not consciously consider these tactics to be a form of strategic science communication.

UWA School of Biological Sciences UWA Alumni Australian Science Communicators (ASC) Heather Bray Australian Science Communicators - WA Branch UWA Research

“It's having conversations that I like with people I like": exploring the motivations of Australian science podcasters Science podcasts have become an increasingly popular channel for science communication. Although podcasting has risen in popularity, little is known about why science podcasters choose to pursue this pathway for communication and how they set about achieving their goals for their podcast. Drawing on...

Inclusive Science Communicators: We want to hear from you!

💡 Join a new research study interviewing practitioners of inclusive science communication in Australia about your values.
❓ Help us understand and grow our field.
🕰 45-60 min interview online or in-person.

➡️For more information or to get involved, go to: https://uwa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eyfmSL6GQWMn1To

📨or email Emma Gill and Dr Heather Bray at [email protected]

This project is approved by The University of Western Australia Human Research Ethics Committee, HREC number 2025/ET000043.

Welcome to Dr Laura Skates, who has recently joined us as an Associate Lecturer in Science Communication at UWA!

Laura is a botanist, artist and environmental educator. Her PhD on carnivorous plant ecology led her to become fascinated with not only how plants interact with the world, but by how people interact with plants, too.

Following her PhD, she went on to do an APR Internship on science communication at botanic gardens, and co-led a citizen science project on wildlife-friendly gardening.

She sits on the committee for the Citizen Science Association WA branch (https://www.facebook.com/ACSA.WA) and has been a longtime member of the Australian Science Communicators (https://www.facebook.com/AuSciCommWA).

Outside of work, Laura loves going on bushwalks and making all kinds of arts and crafts.

Find out more about her work here: https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/persons/laura-skates

Welcome, Laura, it's great to have you with us!

UWA School of Biological Sciences Australian Citizen Science Assoc - WA Australian Science Communicators - WA Branch