Media Liaison and Science Communication Training

The Institute, through the External Relations office, aims to facilitate and promote constructive communication with the media and the bioscience community. Developing appropriate communication skills is therefore essential to fulfil these aims and enable the scientific community to listen and respond to the needs and concerns of our various public audiences and operate effectively with the media.

Since 2001 we have ensured that all senior scientists participate in 'media training', giving priority to those whose work makes them likely spokespeople on topics of public interest. Several of the Institute's Group Leaders are on the Science Media Centre's list of 'technical experts', available to provide comment or opinion on issues of public interest. We focus on practical training in interview techniques, rather than non-technical writing, as the demand from both media and community groups is for articulate speakers who can clearly communicate the key messages. Group Leaders and PhD students are covered by formal training programmes in this area. We intend to extend, through the Institute's established postdoctoral training programme, more tailored training for all scientific staff, especially concentrating on presentation skills for engaging the non-technical audience.

We recognise the need to work with the scientific media, to ensure messages are communicated accurately and society has access to evidence-based information. Our scientists contribute to news and articles in the print and broadcast media, nationally and internationally, often through the Science Media Centre, providing comment on topical issues or press briefings on emerging scientific issues such as epigenetics.

Press briefings

September 2nd 2009
Epigenetics: Past, Present and Future
Speakers: Prof Wolf Reik, Head of the Epigenetics ISP at the Babraham Institute, University of Cambridge Prof Martin Widschwendter, Professor in Women's Cancer and Consultant Gynaecological Oncology Surgeon, University College London

June 26th 2006
Epigenetics - the post-genomic era
Speakers: Dr Stephan Beck, Professor, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute Immunogenomics Laboratory
Dr Wolf Reik, Head of Developmental Genetics Programme, The Babraham Institute
Prof Mark Hanson, Director, Developmental Origins of Health & Disease Division
Background briefing on 'epigenetics' - a phenomenon that adds a new level of complexity to the way genes are turned on and off, hinting at how our environment can change the way genes are expressed and may have a lasting impact on future generations.

Interviews and briefings with politicians

25th June 2008
Listen to a podcast with Sir John Chisholm, chair of the Medical Research Council and Professor Michael Wakeham and Professor Wolf Reik of the Babraham Institute (opens an MP3 in a site hosted by epolitix.com)

19th March 2008
Genomic Medicine - Science and Technology Committee
Seminar held at the House of Lords - speakers including Prof. Wolf Reik (scroll down to section 4)
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/

Radio interviews on Naked Scientists!

Animal Communication, Sexual Signalling and Emotion (Keith Kendrick - December 2005)
The Chemical that Keeps Nerves Alive (Michael Coleman - February 2010)
State of the art facility opens at the Babraham Institute (Lord Drayson - August 2009)

Further information is available from:

Dr Claire Cockcroft
Head, External Relations
01223 496260
Contact by email

Dr Anja Drozd
External Relations Officer and Secondary School Outreach
01223 496000
Contact by email