Members of the Science Communication Unit (SCU)
A variety of staff and students work with the SCU on our practical, academic and postgraduate project portfolio.
Co-Directors
- Professor Emma Weitkamp, Professor in Science Communication, Co-Director of the Science Communication Unit
- Professor Clare Wilkinson, Professor in Science Communication, Co-Director of the Science Communication Unit
Academic staff
- Dr Kathy Fawcett, Senior Lecturer in Science Communication
- Dr Laura Fogg Rogers, Associate Professor for Engineering in Society
- Andrew Glester, Lecturer in Science Communication
- Dr David Judge, Lecturer in Science Communication
- Dr Andy Ridgway, Senior Lecturer in Science Communication
- Dr Amanda Webber, Senior Lecturer in Science Communication
- Professor Alan Winfield, Professor of Robot Ethics
Research and project staff
- Sarah Behenna, Research Associate for Science Hunters: Engineering for Sustainable Societies
- Dr Louisa Cockbill, Project Coordinator for Curiosity Connections Bristol
- Kat Corbett, Inclusive Community Engagement Coordinator
- Dr Laura Hobbs, Research Fellow
- Sophie Laggan, Research Fellow
- Dr Achintya Rao, Communication and Engagement Manager for the COALESCE project
- Dr Margarida Sardo, Senior Research Fellow
- Josh Warren, Education Coordinator - DETI Inspire
- Jane Wooster, Science Communication Unit Administrator
Current PhD students
Miriam Al-Futaih
Thesis title: Organic farming and knowledge exchange in Great Britain: Opportunities and barriers for organic agricultural knowledge exchange and innovation through social media.
Supervisory team: Dr Angelina Sanderson Bellamy (Director of Studies), Dr Hannah Little, Professor Emma Weitkamp.
Henry Bennie
Thesis title: Quantum computation - are we ready for the next computing revolution?
Supervisory team: Professor Clare Wilkinson and Professor Matthew Studley.
Karen Collins
Thesis title: Exploring evaluation: How can science communication draw on evaluation best practice in other fields?
Supervisory team: Professor Clare Wilkinson and Dr Margarida Sardo.
Ria Griffiths
Thesis title: Exploring professionalisation within the field of science journalism, connecting science communication research and practice to transform the field.
Supervisory team: Dr Andy Ridgway (Director of Studies), Professor Clare Wilkinson and Professor Emma Weitkamp.
Andreia Jorge
Thesis title: To understand how plant diversity communication is performed, both from the institutions’ perspective and communicators’ angle.
Supervisory team: Professor Emma Weitkamp (Director of Studies), Dr Hannah Little, Teresa Girão, António Gouveia.
Kezia Kershaw
Thesis title: Examining coproduction across agrifood system stakeholders (with the AgriFood4NetZero Network +).
Supervisory team: Professor Angelina Sanderson Bellamy (Director of Studies) and Dr Amanda Webber.
Jelena Krisovic
Thesis title: A new Natural History documentary: Co-creating compelling stories that engage audiences with global climate and ecological justice.
Supervisory team: Professor Andrew Spicer (Director of Studies), Dr Amanda Webber (First Supervisor), Dr Emma Agusita (Second Supervisor), Andrew Glester (Advisor).
Sophie Laggan (DPhil)
Thesis title: Enhancing public participation in environmental decision-making: lessons from research and practice.
Supervisory team: Dr Laura Fogg-Rogers (Director of Studies), Dr Enda Hayes.
Abbi Matthews
Thesis title: Using social media to reduce stigma towards visible differences and increase acceptance of appearance diversity.
Supervisory team: Dr Ella Guest (Director of Studies), Dr Amy Slater, Professor Clare Wilkinson.
Lisa Mayne
Thesis title: Exploring factors that influence recruitment of underserved patient populations in clinical trials.
Supervisory team: Dr Mo Salehan (Director of Studies) and Professor Clare Wilkinson.
Jen Weston
Thesis title: Citizen science, biodiversity and urban environments: A quantitative and qualitative study on the inclusivity and representation in urban citizen science research.
Supervisory team: Dr Bethan Hindle (Director of Studies) and Professor Clare Wilkinson.
Helen Whitfield-Williams
Thesis title: Understanding the role of clinical engineering: Workforce development and training.
Supervisory team: Dr Antony Hill (Director of Studies), Professor Clare Wilkinson.
Completed PhD students
Andy Ridgway (completed 2023)
Thesis title: Exploring how parents navigate and negotiate domestic food practices that have an influence on domestic food waste using online forums.
Supervisory team: Dr Katy Ling (Director of Studies), Dr Fiona Spotswood, Professor Alan Tapp, Dr Lucy Meredith.
Achintya Rao (completed 2023)
Thesis title: Exploration of factors that shape attitudes towards outreach within the particle physics research community (funded by the CERN Doctoral Student Programme).
Supervisory team: Professor Emma Weitkamp (Director of Studies), Professor Clare Wilkinson, Dr Erik Stengler, Christine Sutton.
David Judge (completed 2022)
Thesis title: Re-thinking transformative visitor experience in a science exhibition: Implications for science communication theory and practice.
Supervisory team: Professor Clare Wilkinson (Director of Studies), Professor Emma Weitkamp.
Elena Milani (completed 2021)
Thesis title: Vaccine movements on social media: a visual and network analysis.
Supervisory team: Professor Emma Weitkamp (Director of Studies), Dr Peter Webb.
Pedro Larfargue (completed 2020)
Thesis title: Advanced traceability technologies to improve the supply chain of the multibillion cocoa and chocolate industry.
Supervisory team: Dr Joel Allainguillaume (Director of Studies), Professor Dawn Arnold, Professor Emma Weitkamp.
Laura Fogg-Rogers (DPhil 2016-2018)
Thesis title: Learning from engagement: exploring cultures of science communication at live science events.
Supervisory team: Dr Tim Moss, Professor Catherine Hobbs and Professor Clare Wilkinson.
Wilasinee Tryiyarat (completed 2017)
Thesis title: Factors affecting engagement with informal science learning in Thailand: a regional perspective.
Supervisory team: Professor Clare Wilkinson (Director of Studies), Professor Emma Weitkamp.
Supara Kamolpattana (completed 2016)
Thesis title: Science museum explainer training: exploring factors that influence visitor-explainer interactions.
Supervisory team: Professor Clare Wilkinson (Director of Studies), Professor Neil Willey, Dr Karen Bultitude.
Helena Wythe (completed 2016)
Thesis title: Meeting food hygiene challenges in older people: mobilising health assets for health promotion.
Supervisory team: Professor Emma Weitkamp (Director of Studies), Professor Judy Orme, Professor Clare Wilkinson, Dr Lucy Meredith.
Ann Grand (completed 2011)
Thesis title: Open science and public engagement: exploring the potential of the open paradigm to support public engagement with science.
Supervisory team: Professor Alan Winfield (Director of Studies), Professor Clare Wilkinson, Dr Karen Bultitude.
Helen Featherstone (completed 2008)
Thesis title: Risk communication of climate change: Stakeholder objectives and public responses.
Supervisory team: Professor Emma Weitkamp (Director of Studies), Professor Frank Burnet, Dr Katy Ling.
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About the Science Communication Unit (SCU)
The SCU is internationally renowned for training science communicators and engaging the public with science.
Projects in the Science Communication Unit
Current and past projects from the Science Communication Unit.
Contact the Science Communication Unit
Science Communication enquiries.