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A
Science Communicator's Perspective
Bronwyn
Allan - Marketing and Communications Officer
IMB University of QLD
On
Wednesday April 12, my arm appeared on television.
I am a Marketing & Communications Officer for the Institute
for Molecular Bioscience (IMB - www.imb.uq.edu.au) at the
University of Queensland.
On this particular day, a television crew were interviewing
Dr Mark Kendall, who is developing nanotechnology that may
one day replace needles in administering vaccinations and
therapeutics (http://www.uq.edu.au/news/index.html?article=9408).
Although Mark is not actually from the IMB, he is from another
UQ institute that is currently situated in the IMB's building
while its own building is constructed. I was asked to organise
a space in our laboratories that could provide a backdrop
for the interview, and Mark ended up demonstrating his "nano
patch" on my arm for the crew.
Organising media visits is just one part of my job
at the IMB. I also write press releases, co-ordinate the Institute's
annual report, conduct tours of the IMB, look after our website,
co-ordinate advertising, and write and sometimes design material
such as brochures and newsletters. This is my first full-time
job after university, where I studied science and journalism.
During high school, I enjoyed science and took three science
subjects at senior level. I also liked English, particularly
writing, so my job allows me to combine writing with my interest
in science. I think it's important that people realise that
if you enjoy science but don't necessarily
want to become a researcher,
there are plenty of other jobs
such as mine in the scientific field. |
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