Science communication and Sciencewise-ERC
I run Think-Lab, the first communications agency in the UK to specialise in supporting the science community. When we set up in 1999 we were pioneers – before then, organisations had to choose between someone who understood the science and someone who understood comms.
I am also a ‘Dialogue and Engagement’ specialist with The Sciencewise Expert Resource Centre, a government-funded programme. The Expert Resource Centre works to build and spread good practice in public consultation and dialogue about science. We are helping policy makers involve the public in decisions around science issues and to be able to hear their perspectives more clearly.
My specific role with the Expert Resource Centre involves looking at how we can use the media, including blogs, twitter and online forums, to extend such debates. For instance, Sciencewise-ERC supported a dialogue called DrugsFutures, led by the Academy of Medical Sciences. It was about brain science, looking at issues like the ethics around drugs that affect how people think. Is it OK to use drugs to enhance things like concentration, or does that give some people an unfair advantage? A fascinating area, but we found that the mainstream media passed on the headlines but did nothing to get people involved. So we helped the project make use of new media because it opens up lots of ways to be more interactive.
Policymakers are increasingly using dialogue to help their decision making, so we’re kept busy. October is an exciting month for us because it sees the launch at the House of Commons of a Sciencewise-ERC report bringing together lots of the lessons we’ve learned about public dialogue over the past few years.
I love science. I did a degree in microbiology and virology at the University of Warwick. But I am unusually clumsy – to the point that my tutor advised me not to do my one year work placement in a laboratory! Instead, I went to the PR department at the Natural Environment Research Council and discovered a talent for communication. I went straight on to do the Masters in Science Communication at Imperial University.
Running my own business is sometimes very challenging, but never boring. I love the independence I get from being my own boss, and having such interesting clients makes it pretty easy to get up for work each day.
Melanie Smallman is founder and Director of Think-Lab. She is an honorary research fellow at University College London (Department of Science and Technology Subjects) and is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. She helps run the environmental campaign SERA.
She is also a Dialogue and Engagement Specialist with the Sciencewise Expert Resource Centre for Public Dialogue In Science and Innovation. Sciencewise-ERC aims to help policy makers commission and use public dialogue to inform policy decisions in emerging areas of science and technology. It also provides co-funding to a range of agencies to develop and commission public dialogue activities.
Comments
Ruth Wilson (UKRC moderator):
Welcome Melanie, to the blog. There's lots I want to ask you! First though, the publication on public dialogue sounds very interesting. What is the most important thing you have learned over the years, to make dialogue go well and have impact? Second, have you ever consulted in Second Life? We had a go last year for the Science and Society consultation, and it was a fascinating experience - and a bit alarming and hilarious at moments as well because we were so new to it all. Monday 12 October we are offering free champagne in Second Life and the chance to view the wonderful women of outstanding achievement portratins. 6.15pm. Everyone is welcome. More info here: http://www.ukrc4setwomen.org/html/news-and-events/events/?event_id=1306
Kaye Heyes:
Hi Melanie. I\'m really interested in how you can get the public involved in science policy. Before I worked at the UKRC, I was not at all interested in science because I had had such a bad experience at school. Now I realise how it impacts on every single aspect of our lives and how crucial it is to get science policy right. I should imagine lots of people out there had a similar experience to myself at school which has turned them off science for life. How do we engage those people? And how do we make sure that young people are encouraged to have an interest in science, even if they choose not to follow a science career?
Marion Scott:
Hi Melanie, Linking to what Ruth and Kay have said and asked, 1) I would like to know more about how the new media element worked in the Drugs Future and how well it went. 2) In relation to the forthcoming report on public dialogue, does it include any analysis with regard to engaging women and girls specifically? As Ruth mentioned, last year UKRC was active in the science and society consultation and there were some suggestions made to us (some of which are mentioned in our submission) about engagement and dialogue and women/girls. 3) Lastly, do you see \'overload\' (large numbers of responses and conversations) as a \'problem\' e.g. when you come to selecting or summarising responses to input key messages into policy debate - what are the challlenges there - new media may draw in more people and opinion but at some point a filter has to be applied? Here\'s to dialogue about dialogue!!!
Melanie Smallman:
Some good questions there! What makes dialogue go well and have impact? Well, that's what we've been looking at through the Sciencewise Expert resource centre, so I'd recommend the Knowledge Hub section of the website http://www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk My own 'one lesson' however is that you need to build relationships (with policymakers and the media) over time - and I mean years rather than months. Although I'm a Facebook and Twitter addict, I have absolutely no experience of Second Life sorry - I tried it once but seemed to get stuck in some kind of mall, which was very unrewarding. I'm intrigued to know how you drink champagne in a virtual world though - I suspect I prefer the real thing. In terms of turning people back on to science - lots of people have been thinking about this for a while now. I remember that this was one of the things that got me involved in science communication in the first place - I don't understand how something so exciting as science can be presented in such a boring way sometimes. I was lucky because I had an inspiring biology teacher (Mrs Rees) and I know there are other brilliant science teachers out there though who are really bringing the subject to life. Things like the Science Learning Centres (https://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk) are helping to spread this good practice and there's also the 'Twenty First Century Science' curriculum (http://www.21stcenturyscience.org) which aims to give all 14 to 16 year olds a worthwhile and inspiring experience of science regardless of whether they're going to become scientists or not. And of course there's the amazing network of science centres and museums - which I'm a huge fan of.
Rachel:
Hi Melanie, What persuaded you to take the risk of setting up your own business? Did you get any support from any agencies or others? Do you have any tips for other women who might be considering setting up their own enterprise?
Melanie Smallman:
Rachel, I\\\'d always wanted my own business - in fact my I started my first one selling chestnuts when I was just 12 and I was always reading books about entrepreneurs and how to set up a business, so for me the question was when rather than whether. Back in 1999 I could see a clear gap in the market for someone who could combine knowledge of science with professional communication skills. I was also really bored with a 9 to 5 job, didn\\\'t have any financial commitments, so it seemed the ideal time to do it. I am however very cautious by nature (particularly when my money is involved) so it has been a slow-grow business. In terms of support, I was exceptionally lucky to be accepted onto a programme run by my local business enterprise centre which was specifically designed to help businesses owned by women and people from ethnic minorities (statistically these businesses are the most likely to fail in the first two years). They provided me with training in all the boring bits of running the business like finance and book keeping, but also helped me network with other businesses in similar positions based nearby. Best of all, I got a business coach who was fantastic and really gave me the confidence to create Think-Lab. We spent hours doing role play until I was comfortable saying \\\"I run a company called Think-Lab\\\"" with authenticity or asking for a decent day
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