OUR TEAM

Facilitators

Jenni Metcalfe

FACILITATOR

I revel in my work: out in a paddock talking with farmers about how they manage a variable and changing climate; in a sunny room in Africa hearing researchers talk simply about the implications of their work to a local journalist; or on the top of a remote mountain with a team of researchers conducting fauna surveys.

I have worked as a science communication consultant since 1995 and no two days are ever the same. It’s a job that combines my education and experience in science and journalism. It’s work where I passionately strive to make a difference to people lives and the places they live in.

I am founder and director of Econnect Communication, and our vision is to ‘bring science to life’.

Toss Gascoigne

FACILITATOR

Toss Gascoigne has run hundreds of training workshops on science communication in Australia and a dozen other countries, helping researchers reach different audiences and explain complex concepts.

He is interested in the interface between science and policy, helping scientists explain their work and the effect it will have on society. For 15 years he discussed issues with politicians and bureaucrats, as Executive Director of the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS) and then the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS).

He has published on the history of modern science communication and science advocacy. He has also written on the establishment of ‘Science meets Parliament’, a successful Australian initiative which allows scientists to meet national politicians to make the case for science and research to the government.

Maddie S

Sarah Cole

FACILITATOR/MENTOR

My favourite part of writing stories is not the writing: it’s the talking.

I love interviewing people who get excited about their work, maybe even tripping on their words or rolling down side paths about related topics – it could be which local fish are flourishing or what microfinance programs for women work best or how people use forecasts to decide which crops to plant this year…

This love of talking with people is actually what made me realise I wanted to be a science communicator instead of a scientist, and that was 14 or so happy years ago now. Creating a more succinct story or fact sheet also gives me a lot of satisfaction – editing is a zen state for me.

I’m a contractor to Econnect Communication and the ever-enthusiastic Jenni Metcalfe, and love being part of workshops with her and Toss.