Thought Leaders
The Winton Centre: A vital time for nuanced risk communication
The Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication, based at the University of Cambridge, UK, was established with a simple belief: that everyone deserves to hear accurate evidence concerning matters which are important to their lives. Never has this core tenet been so vital, or so widely scrutinised, as during the COVID-19 pandemic. We spoke with the Centre’s Executive Director, […]
Scientific communication: Learning from the COVID-19 ‘Infodemic’
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken place in an age of rapid digital communication. Scientific voices can become lost in the noise. Worse, some were not accessible to the general public in the first place. On 7th December 2020, Project ECHO held a Global Series webinar: “COVID-19 global learning collaborative – science and the response to the COVID-19 ‘infodemic’”. The goal […]
The Orangutan Project: How a successful not-for-profit organisation is working to protect Critically Endangered orangutans from extinction
The Orangutan Project was founded in 1998 by orangutan expert and conservationist Leif Cocks. Today, it takes a multifaceted approach to conservation, targeting the key threats facing the Critically Endangered orangutan population. Leif Cocks told us about the vital work of the Project, and about his own ethics which underpin the conservation work. Orangutans are facing an existential threat. As vast tracts […]
Finger on The Pulse: Spotlighting the people behind the science headlines
Where does personality come from? What’s it like to work in the emergency room during a global pandemic? Is there a cure for heart ache? Weekly podcast The Pulse asks the science and health questions you want to know the answers to, and those you hadn’t thought of yet. In this interview, host and executive producer Maiken Scott told Research […]
Making an impact: How Altmetric tells researchers more about their work
Founded in 2011, Altmetric is the data and metrics tool that begins to measure the impact of research from the moment it is published, allowing researchers to see how, why and where their work is being used, discussed and expanded upon. CEO Kathy Christian told us how Altmetric works, why it is so important and who is already using it. […]
An age-old problem: How SENS Research Foundation is looking at age-related disease in a new way
Despite time, energy and money being poured into age-related disease research around the world, humans are yet to find cures for illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. SENS Research Foundation believe this is because current research is approaching the problem from the wrong angle. Research Outreach found out more from the Foundation’s Chief Science Officer and co-founder Dr […]
The Wolfson Foundation: 65 years of philanthropy
An independent grant-making charity based in Central London, The Wolfson Foundation has awarded some £1 billion to more than 14,000 projects in the UK from Cornwall to the Shetland Islands since its establishment in the 1950s. Chief Executive Paul Ramsbottom explains how academic decision-making is at the heart of what they do, and how they’ve adapted in the face of […]
Digital Science: A more collaborative approach to research
Digital Science is a company that looks to improve old research practices with new tools and technologies. CEO Daniel Hook believes that investing in, supporting and promoting businesses and innovations that make the research process more open and efficient is the key to enabling researchers to make a real difference. Is it possible that in the future we might see […]
How to change the world: COMPASS on science and effective communication
Scientists have information that can help us solve complex problems that threaten us all, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. COMPASS is a non-profit organisation which believes that strategic communication is critical for a future in which both people and nature survive and thrive. Executive Director Amanda Stanley told Research Outreach how they are building a cross-discipline community of […]
Let’s talk! How Science Talk is getting science communicators together
If scientists want their research to make a difference in the world, it is essential that they learn how to be effective ‘science communicators’; if no one hears about research, it may as well never have happened. We found out from Science Talk President Allison Coffin how her organisation is bringing scientists together in new ways to create a community […]