With many Canadians spending over 20-plus hours per week hours on the internet, according to Statistics Canada, breaking through the data din is a tough prospect for complex scientific topics.
Scientists have an important role to play in piquing public interest in science. That’s why student researchers at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine are given the opportunity to acquire the tools they need to entice Canadians to want to learn more about scientific research—ideally leading to informed choices and healthier lives.
Drs. Emilio Alarcon and Keith Wheaton teach the Science Communication course offered as part of the Translational and Molecular Medicine (TMM) program. Podcasting, Dr. Alarcon says, is a simple solution to bridging the gap between scientist and the general public.
“One will never learn if the willingness to do so is not present,” he says. “But podcasting entices the public to listen in on easily accessible, captivating scientific conversations, streamed directly to them via their earbuds and home speakers.”
“Podcasting entices the public to listen in on easily accessible, captivating scientific conversations, streamed directly to them via their earbuds and home speakers.”
Dr. Emilio Alarcon
— Instructor of Science Communication at the Faculty of Medicine
The course is unique, says Dr. Alarcon, a researcher, professor and digital channel afficionado, explaining that very few science communications courses provide training on how to make science accessible to the non-expert. The course integrates several sub-disciplines of communications, offering training in scientific writing, presentation skills, use of graphics and composing short texts explaining science to the average person.
Learners choose a topic, interview a scientist, including some Faculty of Medicine investigators, and produce a podcast. The result is a set of digital skills that enables students to prepare podcasts intended to reach non-experts.
Dr. Alarcon says the students can take this skill set with them anywhere in their careers, sharing their discoveries with the public along the way.
“Scientists have a societal obligation to communicate our research—and not merely our discoveries—to our communities,” he says. “Making sure the big picture is presented accessibly is critical.”
Among the many podcasts produced during the course’s fall term, students Fiona Haugen, Amandine Courtemanche, Mairead Green and Jade Poirier produced an episode titled Breathing Against the Odds. It features an interview with Dr. Smita Pakhalé, associate professor at the Faculty of Medicine and senior scientist and staff respirologist at The Ottawa Hospital, about the impact of health inequities on the development of obstructive lung diseases in urban poor populations.
“I believe if we’re given the spotlight, it’s important to share it with others who need it most, especially our very own neighbours.”
Fiona Haugen
— TMM student at the Faculty of Medicine
Dr. Pakhalé emphasized the importance of using one’s voice to speak up for others, and Fiona agrees. She says podcasting is a valuable channel for raising awareness of community issues, at the community level.
“Health inequities in marginalized communities are a pressing issue happening in our very own neighbourhood, yet is rarely talked about,” she says. “I believe if we’re given the spotlight, it’s important to share it with others who need it most, especially our very own neighbours.”
Research is ultimately for the benefit of communities, says Amandine, and even often involves the public, as with The Bridge Engagement Centre, created by Dr. Pakhalé to address the root of social disparities and discussed in the students’ podcast.
“It’s our role as researchers to make it accessible and understandable—and what better way than through a podcast,” Amandine says.
“It’s our role as researchers to make [research] accessible and understandable—and what better way than through a podcast.”
Amandine Courtemanche
— TMM student at the Faculty of Medicine
Encouraging Canadians to support the funding of scientific research—and feel comfortable working it into their own life decisions—requires them to not only back the work of scientists, but to recognize how it affects them directly.
“Research is funded primarily by the public,” Fiona explains. “As shareholders, they have the right to know about the research we do and its importance.”
Students leave the class with foundational tools in today's communication strategies, critical given how quickly the way society consumes content is evolving.
“These skills are downright essential,” Dr. Alarcon says.
“We must ensure future science professionals are receiving such training.”
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Enjoy the course’s latest series of podcasts covering topics like heart health, cancer, 3D printing, pandemics and much more. Each podcast is under 15 minutes in length and in English only.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Podcast Index* | Overcast Radio | Amazon Music*
*no subscription required
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