The SciComm Collective

“It’s the question I keep coming back to – how inclusion, neurodiversity, and different ways of seeing and being in the world are part of science and science communication…” – Emma Gill  

Our Winter Shorts Series continues with Clare Boon sitting down with The SciComm Collective’s Emma Gill to chat about how far she’s come since recording her very first podcast - for an assignment at UWA. We share Emma’s episode on misophonia, a condition which triggers intense emotional or physical responses to certain sounds. Clare and Emma discuss how the episode was a chance to explore what mattered for Emma, and some lessons learned about editing and episode preparation over the years. Together they reflect on Emma’s path through science communication so far.

“Doing a podcast is about having a go. We’re all on a journey.” – Emma Gill

Episode links:

Misophonia charity So Quiet

Misophonia expert Dr Jane Gregory

Sentipensate author Laura Réndon

Free audio editing software Audacity

Foley sound effects on Freesound.org

The University of Western Australia: Master of Science Communication

Episode credits:

Episode Host: Clare Boon

Special Guests: Emma Gill

Producer: Clare Boon

Audio editor: Clare Boon

Audio engineer: Matthew Gill

Show notes: Clare Boon

"Whatever you are interviewing about, be curious … Ask the questions with the full curiosity of: I don’t know this, can you teach me?" - Siobhon Eacott 

Welcome to Winter Shorts, a bonus series by The SciComm Collective that hopes to keep you entertained during the first weeks of winter. We will explore the art of podcasting with professionals and former students of UWA’s Science Presentations unit, so kick back, enjoy a hot beverage and listen in!

Today, Ximena sits down with Dr Heather Bray and Siobhon Eacott to talk about their experiences preparing for and conducting interviews. Heather shares insights from her time working on live radio and Siobhon reflects on the process of recording podcasts in a discipline she was initially unfamiliar with. They discuss practical strategies for keeping conversations flowing smoothly, comparing a good interview to a tennis match where the dialogue is constantly moving back and forth. This episode originates from one of The SciComm Collective’s most recent workshops, designed to encourage students to step outside their comfort zones, try new things and explore the world of podcasting. 

"For practising [interviewing], there has to be something that makes it unfamiliar… your learning zone is out of your comfort zone… so you are practising to acquire that muscle memory." – Dr Heather Bray 

Episode links:

Check out Heather’s lecture on interviewing skills  

Find out more resources on reporting science from the Australian Science Media Centre  

Discover more interviewing skills in BBC Academy 

This episode was brought to you by:

Episode Host: Ximena Shaw 

Special Guests: Dr Heather Bray and Siobhon Eacott 

Producer: Ximena Shaw 

Audio editor: Matthew Gill 

Show notes by: Ximena Shaw 

As The University of Western Australia gears up for the return of EnviroFest later in 2026, Ke chatted to the former guild environment officer Julia about the mission and logistical efforts required to bring a large-scale sustainability event to life in 2025. Emma and Rae then revisited their conversations last year at EnviroFest with a diverse range of community organisations to gather their insights of participating in event like this and how they take tangible actions on environmental issues. They then explored how organisations track behavioural change and use qualitative feedback to measure impact. By highlighting personal reflections from student volunteers and organisers alike, this episode demonstrates that the true value of such events lies in the power of collaboration and reflection. 

Episode links:

For updates of EnviroFest 2026, visit UWA Guild Environment Department, or follow their Facebook and Instagram. 

Wanna volunteer with UWA? Sign up on their website. 

Learn more about Friends of Australian Rock Art here. 

Support Trillion Trees Australia’s restoration initiatives here. 

Discover Kanyana Wildlife’s rehabilitation works here.

Visit Keep Australia Beautiful WA to see how you can help maintain our environment. 

Join the mission of SAVE African Rhino Foundation here. 

This episode was brought to you by: 

Episode Hosts: Ke Yuan, Emma Gill and Rae Kumar

Special Guests: Julia Suffell (UWA Guild Environment Officer 2025), Douglas Laurie (Trillion Trees Australia), Danny Shelton (Kanyana Wildlife), Judith Hugo (Friends of Australian Rock Art), Catriona Drysdale (Keep Australia Beautiful Council), Linton Kirk (SAVE African Rhino Foundation), Xavier Caguiat (UWA PhD student volunteer) 

Produced: Emma Gill and Rae Kumar 

Audio edited: Ke Yuan  

Audio Engineering: Matthew Gill 

Show notes: Clare Boon  

Follow The SciComm Collective on Instagram and online at https://thescicommcollective.com/

“There should be no assumed knowledge in the rules” – Nick Godfrey

Today, Rae sits down with Nick Godfrey to discuss his work developing a board game that teaches players about physics as covert education. They discuss how he brought together his background in physics and his love for board games to create something he’s passionate about. As every good science communicator considers, Nick reveals how he keeps the game adaptable for different audiences with different knowledge bases to keep the game fun for multiple audiences. Nick describes how he built an accessible game through trial and error, keeping fun at the forefront of his educational tactics. The discussion then turns to theplace of games in science communication and why fun is so important when learning. Finally, he gives some advice on how science communicators can use games in their work.

Find Nick on LinkedIn here 

Hidden Variables will (hopefully) be available in 2026!

Follow Hidden Variables on Instagram for updates here

Sign up to Nick’s mailing list to be notified of thelaunch here

This episode was brought to you by:

Episode Host: Rae Kumar

Special Guests: Nick Godfrey

Produced: Rae Kumar

Audio edited: Emma Gill  

Show notes by: Clare Boon 

Follow The SciComm Collective on Instagram and online at https://thescicommcollective.com/

“When I go into those two different communities, I have to introduce myself differently” – Dr Jarita Holbrook

Today, Kate, Rae and Felice sit down with Dr Jarita Holbrook to talk about their experience working with Indigenous communities. They discuss the ways in which researcherscan build connections with Indigenous communities and how communication is imperative in collaboration. They talk about the importance of identity when introducing yourself to different audiences and how holding multiple identitiescan be a strength. The discussion then turns to code switching and whiteness, andthe way privilege plays on conceptions of race. Jarita also shares their experiences in Perth and how they navigate issues around funding their research.

Episode links:

Check out Astrofest in 2026 here

Read about the FAIR and CARE principles forIndigenous Data Governance here

Delve deeper into code-switching here

Find out more about Whiteness Theory here

Watch Jarita talk about inclusivity in quantum gravity and cosmology here

Find Jarita on Bluesky @astroholbrook.bsky.social

This episode was brought to you by:

Episode Host: Kate Holmes

Special Guests: Dr Jarita Holbrook

Produced: Rae Kumar and Felice Ng

Audio edited: Matthew Gill

Show notes by: Clare Boon  and Camila Pardo

“I think of the audience as a fried egg” – Phil Dooley 

Today, Clare sits down with Dr Phil Dooley (the current President of the Australian Science Communicators) to discuss art and audiences. Together they explore how science art reaches different audiences and how the ever-changing algorithm impacts who our content reaches. As performers, they discuss how theatre has can be used in science communication, especially when we can get scientists up on stage with us.  

Episode links:

Catch up with Phil Dooley on social media ⁠here⁠

Find Phil on Youtube ⁠here⁠ 

Watch Phil’s videos with Veritasium ⁠here⁠   

If you want to catch Phil in person, try to get to his ⁠next Phil Up On Science event⁠  

Interested in Australian Science Communicators? Check out their ⁠website⁠ 

Check out Clare's work here

This episode was brought to you by:

Episode Host: Clare Boon

Special Guests: Dr Phil Dooley 

Socials:  Follow The SciComm Collective on Instagram  

Produced: Clare Boon 

Audio edited:  Holly Dear  

Show notes by:  Clare Boon  

Follow The SciComm Collective on Instagram and online at https://thescicommcollective.com/

Keelan investigates what consensus reality is with Holly and Camila and how this relates to our work as science communicators. They delve into the theory behind this concept and discuss the intricacies behind mimesis and fiction. This theoretical discussion touches on all kinds of important concepts such as positionality, the impact of lenses, and the importance of context.  

Episode links:

If you want to see Keelan’s diagrams, click here

Read about the deficit model ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here⁠ and listen toour episode on it ⁠here⁠

Read up on Haraway’s situated knowledges ⁠here⁠

If you’re interested in Bourdieu’s social capital, you canread his original work on it ⁠here

This episode was brought to you by:

Episode Host: Keelan Powell

Special Guests: Holly Dear and Camila Pardo Uribe

Socials: Follow The SciComm Collective on Instagram 

Produced: Keelan Powell, Holly Dear and Camila Pardo Uribe

Audio edited: Keelan Powell

Show notes: Clare Boon 

Follow The SciComm Collective on Instagram and online at https://thescicommcollective.com/

Join Kate (Master of Science Communication student, the University of Western Australia) and Camila (PhD Candidate, the University of Western Australia) as they talk with Alana Dooley about her journey in science communication. They discuss their personal definitions of science communication and the importance of Alana’s Indigenous identity in how she approaches her science communication practice. They explore the weaponisation of science towards certain communities and the importance of acknowledging and addressing our colonial history in Australia. Alana tells us about the importance of Indigenous knowledge in understanding the night sky in her own life and the impact this has had on her understanding of how scientific knowledge is understood.   

*Disclaimer: This episode was recorded in November 2024. Since then, the JOIDES Resolution (JR) Academy has stopped operating.  

Episode links:  

Read about Alana’s experience aboard the JR vessel here 

Read about the deficit model here and here and listen to our episode on it here  

Find out more about science capital by reading up on Emily Dawson’s work  

Want to find out about most of sci comm being women? Read the paper here  

Heather’s raising the bar episode 
  

This episode was brought to you by:

Episode Host: Kate Holmes and Camila Pardo Uribe  

Special Guests: Alana Dooley 

Socials: Follow The SciComm Collective on Instagram  

Produced: Kate Holmes and Camila Pardo Uribe  

Audio edited: Ximena Shaw and Camila Pardo Uribe  

Show notes: Clare Boon and Camila Pardo Uribe

Follow The SciComm Collective on Instagram and online at https://thescicommcollective.com/

Join Emma (PhD Candidate, The University of Western Australia) today as she talks to children’s book author Pamela Freeman. They discuss how Pamela got into writing ecological picture books for children, where her ideas come from, and how they align with the national curriculum. Pamela explains how she best engages children with her books and how her unconventional relationship with her current illustrator is integral to the work she does. They discuss the process of getting a picture book published and how to evaluate if your work has had an impact.

Episode Links:

Pamela Freeman's website  

This episode was brought to you by:

Episode Host: Emma Gill  

Special Guests: Pamela Freeman 

Socials: Follow The SciComm Collective on Instagram  

Produced: Emma Gill 

Audio edited: Matthew Gill 

Show notes: Clare Boon  

Follow The SciComm Collective on Instagram  and online at https://thescicommcollective.com/

Let’s get inspired! Ahead of the Innovators’ Tea Party’s ten-year anniversary celebration, join Holly (Master of Science Communication student, The University of Western Australia) as she talks with committee members and mentors about the impact of the Innovators’ Tea Party on Western Australian students interested in STEM and what it’s like being a woman in STEM. Hear right from the students’ mouths about their experience at one of the Innovator’s Tea Party’s events.

Episode Links:

The Innovator’s Tea Party

This episode was brought to you by:

  -Episode Host: Holly Dear

-Special Guests: Evelyn Chuck (ITP founder), Estela Hogarth (ITP STEM program coordinator), Sophie Smith (mentor), Rhianna Hepburn (ITP ordinary committee member), Dr Sabine Bellstedt (Mentor), India Cywinski-Jan (Mentor), Jawaria Mahmood (ITP ordinary committee member, mentor)

-Produced: Holly Dear and Emma Gill

-Audio edited: Holly Dear

-Show notes by: Clare Boon 

Follow The SciComm Collective on ⁠Instagram and online at www.thescicommcollective.com