Berlin is a hub of knowledge & culture that has hosted very successful Soapbox Science events every year since 2017, with an increasing interest both from the “Berliners” and the different institutions. The diversity of the city is reflected in the different research institutes focusing on a wide range of fields. We want to bring science closer to society & promote gender-equality in academia by providing women scientists with a platform for promoting their own work and discipline.

Soapbox Science Berlin is integrated by an amazing group of female scientists from all over the world, working in different fields and with a myriad of interests, reflecting the same diversity that Berlin has. All this has translated into a perfect working Team.

During this episode, I chat with Dr. Carolina Doran & Marta Alirangues Núñez about how to join a pod in your city, why the representation of women in science is still so important, and why we put so much energy into being trailblazers and advocates for others.

What is Soapbox Science?

Soapbox Science is a novel public outreach platform for promoting women and non-binary scientists and the science they do. Our events transform public areas into an arena for public learning and scientific debate; they follow the format of London Hyde Park’s Speaker’s Corner, which is historically an arena for public debate. With Soapbox Science, we want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy, learn from, heckle, question, probe, interact with and be inspired by some of our leading scientists. No middle man, no PowerPoint slide, no amphitheatre – just remarkable women and non-binary scientists who are there to amaze you with their latest discoveries, and to answer the science questions you have been burning to ask. Look out for bat simulators, interactive experiments or giant pictures of volcanoes. Or simply hear them talk about what fascinates them, and why they think they have the most fantastic job in the world!

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To find out more, visit the website: https://franzisattler.com

Franziska's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ohyeahfranzi

Carolina’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarolinaDoran

In general, an academic considers themselves very lucky if they can find any academic job at all, let alone one in a particular city. Leaving your home country for a job is not uncommon and most academics have either considered it in order to succeed or have already experienced it themselves first hand. We leave our families, friends and sometimes relationships behind us to follow our academic dreams. But do you have to sacrifice everything to work in research? What if one day you decide to leave academia and pursue other goals? Is joining the industry or a 9-5 job really better when it comes to building a life and settling down? 

I talked to Dr. Diana Alatriste González about our shared love for science, our dislike of competing with others and how leaving academia has changed our lives (for the better).

Dr. Diana Alatriste González is a Biomedical Scientist who's seen the world! She was born and raised in Mexico City where she received her bachelor’s degree before she uprooted her life and moved to the Netherlands to pursue a master’s in Biomedical Sciences. The two years Diana spent there had a huge impact on her, both academically and personally. For her Doctoral Studies, she once again left her home to study the transport of proteins within neurons in Berlin.

Now, she pursues a profession outside the academic world as an Immigration expert helping people from all over the world to move to their destination country and promoting a world without borders.

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This episode was kindly supported by the Equal Opportunity Office of NeuroCure.

The focus of the Cluster is on investigating neurological and psychiatric disorders. The aim of this interdisciplinary research network is to better understand disease mechanisms and to develop new therapies. Fostering local networks of scientists and their research activities lies at the heart of the Cluster’s efforts.  In addition, NeuroCure has established a significant number of new research groups as well as several technological platforms.

By promoting close cooperation between basic science and clinical research, the Cluster aims to more rapidly transfer findings from basic research to clinical application.

https://neurocure.de/en/index.html

https://twitter.com/NeuroCureBerlin

Science With Milk, No Sugar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scicommcafe/

It's well known that women are under-represented in careers in science. 

The academic career path has a long apprenticeship. Typically there is an undergraduate degree, followed by a PhD, then some post-doctoral research contracts and research fellowships, and then finally a more stable lectureship or permanent research leader position, with promotion on up the ladder to follow.

Dr. Florencia Yannelli Lucero is an Argentinean postdoctoral researcher based at Freie Universität Berlin. She works on what makes alien plants successful and how can we 'fight' them during ecological restoration. Florencia is committed to making academia a more diverse environment, particularly by increasing women's representation. As a mom of one, with another one on the way, she has been working towards increasing visibility on the struggles and inequities that academic moms face every day.

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This episode was kindly supported by the Equal Opportunity Office of the Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy Department of Freie Universität Berlin. They all about women in science, helping to improve the situation of parents in academia and changing the world to be a better place!

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To find out more, visit the website

Science With Milk, No Sugar Instagram

Soapbox Science Berlin:

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This episode is part of the #FFSc Fast Forward Science 2021/22 competition in the category #AudioSpezial Award

www.fastforwardscience.de

Fast Forward Science, Webvideo-Wettbewerb, Wissenschaft, Science, Wissen, Wissenschaft im Dialog

Introducing: “Science with Milk, No Sugar”

When most people hear the word “science”, they think of stuffy, ivory tower institutions. They think of dry papers filled with words they can’t pronounce or comprehend. And they think of middle-aged men.

That’s why I’m extremely excited to introduce you to my brand new podcast, scheduled to come to you in early 2022. With “Science withMilk, No Sugar”, I want to invite listeners into a different world of science – one that’s more casual, accessible, and diverse. Instead of listening to a lecture, they can listen in on a real scientist talking casually about their work over a hot cup of coffee.

It’s incredibly important to me to show my guests how they truly are and to just chat about everyday life behind the curtain of Academia.

We will find out about their journey to science, their most difficult challenges, greatest rewards, and their life beyond the lab.

I’m extremely excited about this new adventure, as it gives people the chance to tune in from outside of Berlin, learn about amazing new research happening in the city (and beyond), grab their favourite mug and hot beverage and get involved. Most importantly, we will find out how my guests enjoy their coffee along the way.

To find out more, visit the website

Science With Milk, No Sugar Instagram