How effective are podcasts for science communication?
Very! People can play them in their spare time and most often they can be accessed for free which is quite unique. People can pause it, listen when they’re doing other things and even relisten if they want to. That’s the beauty of them, their ease and accessibility. It’s for that reason that they are very effective at communicating science.
We don’t always have time to sit down to research or read about something of interest and podcasts are another way of accessing new information that demand less time and focus. That is not to say that podcasts can replace books and papers, but they can be a good introduction to topics and get people interested.
Do you have any role models – both in the worlds of marine biology, podcasting and anywhere else – you look up?
Alongside Yasmin Meeda, in marine biology I’m inspired daily by all my lecturers and the passion they have for the subject. In the podcasting world, I have recently started listening to Joe Rogan. What inspires me about him is he is not afraid to ask the ‘stupid questions’. This is something I have worried about in the past; however, they are often the questions the listeners want to know the answers to.
In my closer life, a family friend of mine is my biggest role model, without a doubt. He has been something of a mentor since I was a teenager. He is 84, has three degrees and a huge love for learning. He still does Duolingo every day, reads anything and everything, learns from other people and has even tried to get my brother to show him how to play FIFA on the Xbox. I think a desire to keep learning like he has is rare and when I’m 84 – I hope to be the same.