Scientific Advisory Committee

Rick Borchelt

Rick Borchelt retired in 2023 after ten years as director of communications and public affairs and senior advisor to the US Department of Energy’s Office of Science director. A long-time science communicator who started as a biologist/naturalist, he has spent most of his career communicating and advocating for science funding and science policy and played a pivotal role in the SciPEP initiative.

Professor Sara Yeo

Professor Sara Yeo is a member of faculty in the Department of Communication at the University of Utah. Her research interests include science and risk communication, public opinion on STEM issues, and information seeking and processing. Her current research includes understanding humour and emotions as science communication tactics, expanding audiences for online science content, and open science principles and practices.

Dr T.Y. Branch

T.Y. Branch is a full-time researcher with the Social Credibility and Trustworthiness of Expert Knowledge and Science-Based Information (SOCRATES) Centre for Advanced Studies at the Institute of Philosophy at Leibniz Universität Hannover. Her research examines how norms for values in science influence science education and science communication. She is also interested in scientific material culture.

Dr Julia Cramer

Dr Julia Cramer is an assistant professor of Quantum & Society at Science Communication and Society, Institute of Biology, Leiden, and the Leiden Institute of Physics. Julia’s research is focused on the impact of quantum science and technology on society from a science communication perspective. She is fascinated by communicating science to the (non-obvious) publics. Her research focus is on quantum and society.

Dr Jeanne Garbarino

Dr Jeanne Garbarino is a biomedical scientist and educator at Rockefeller University, where she serves as Executive Director of RockEDU Science Outreach. She works to promote a culture of science outreach among scientists and to support those interested in participating in science outreach activities or initiatives. She profoundly believes in the mantra “science is for everyone” and works to uphold this in all RockEDU programming design and execution.

Professor Marina Joubert

Marina Joubert is an associate professor of science communication and public engagement with science at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, where she has pioneered teaching, training and research in the field. She is deputy editor of the Journal of Science Communication (JCOM) and an honorary life-time member of the global PCST (Public Communication of Science and Technology) Network. Her research focuses on scientists’ roles in public engagement with science, representations of science in the mass media, and online interfaces between science and society.

The symposium aims to deepen understanding of effective public engagement around Discovery Science, also known as basic or foundational science, by exploring ways to improve the practice of communicating Discovery Science, share insights and create a supportive community for scientists and science communication practitioners focused on basic science.

General and programme enquiries

For enquiries, please contact Dr Nicola Davies-Laubscher on info@discoveryscience.co.za

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