Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter
  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Community
  • Career
  • The Cancer Researcher Podcast
  • About
Search
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter
  • Sign up to our newsletter
  • EACR website
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
The Cancer Researcher The Cancer Researcher
  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Community
  • Career
  • The Cancer Researcher Podcast
  • About
The Cancer Researcher The Cancer Researcher

Engaging with the (scary) public – why we need to do it and do it now

Shortlisted for The Cancer Researcher-EACR Science Communication Prize

October 10, 2018
By Caitriona Tyndall
Caitriona Tyndall
Caitriona explains immunotherapy for cancer treatment at a healthcare awards event

Public engagement can be scary for scientists. Quick – think of all the times you have had to explain your research to someone not in your field. Now think of how many times they left more enlightened than confused. I bet there are a lot of you reading this who may have spoken to friends, family or someone at a conference and thought “I am really not explaining this well.” As a scientist I know how daunting it can be to talk to someone about your research, even in broad terms. When someone used to say “public engagement” to me a few years ago I would panic. What do I say? How do I explain complex concepts that I spent 4-5 years studying to someone who doesn’t even know what a gene is? What if I come across like an arrogant scientist? What if they ask me something I don’t know or never thought of? Why do I have to talk to strangers? All perfectly valid questions and I’m sure you have thought of a dozen more reading this.

Cancer affects 1 in 4 people. Everyone you talk to wants to know what you have to say.

There is one universal answer to these questions – no one cares, they are just like you.  The “public”, be it your parent or a scientist from a different field, are curious. They want to hear what you have to say even if they don’t understand everything and they want to ask questions. The field of cancer research is no different and in fact from my experience I would say more people than any other field want to talk to a cancer researcher. Think of when you first started research. Didn’t you have questions about cancer you wanted to answer? You decided to study it because you had the tools to do that. You also have the tools believe it or believe it not to show other people. Cancer affects 1 in 4 people. Everyone you talk to wants to know what you have to say.

“How do I explain complex concepts… to someone who doesn’t even know what a gene is?” Caitriona explains how microscopes work and why we need better imaging technology for cancer diagnosis

I am funded by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and I developed my passion for public engagement with them. It started off slow, showing some interested people how cancer therapy works with plastic cups and coloured balls to lab tours, to talking with cancer patients about my specific research. I have done science festivals, 10km walks, corporate events and much more. In the beginning I was terrible, I tripped over my jargon and completely failed to explain myself. However the more I listened to what people wanted to know and the more I practiced the better I got. I am not good at talking to strangers but I am good at this.

If you can explain your research to a 10-year-old… you can explain your research to anyone.

But why is it important to do this? And why should we be investing a lot more into public engagement? Well firstly if you can explain your research to a 10-year-old playing with a paddling pool full of red dyed water what circulating DNA is then my friend you can explain your research to anyone. It will make you better at writing papers and grants. It also gives you ideas that you never even dared to think of. You as a scientist are restricted by what you were taught. A 50-year-old train driver isn’t.

My advice if you want to learn about communicating your research in an approachable way is to contact your funding body and contact your university/institution.  If there aren’t courses for this, start one up. Do a lab tour. Go to a school and demonstrate your work. Even just talk to your friends or family. Trust me it’s worth it.


Caitriona TyndallAbout the Author

Caitriona Tyndall is a fourth year PhD student and blogger at Imperial College London, UK. She is currently studying the epigenetic mechanisms by which the Type II Diabetes (T2DM) drug metformin reduces breast cancer risk. She has been an EACR member for 3 years.

  • Blog: www.diaryofacancerresearcher.com
  • Email: c.tyndall15@imperial.ac.uk or diaryofacancerresearcher@gmail.com
  • Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

About this article

This is one of our shortlisted entries for The Cancer Researcher-EACR Science Communication Prize. Choosing a winner was incredibly difficult and we’re delighted to be able to share our amazing shortlist here.
  • TAGS
  • public engagement
  • science communication
  • The Cancer Researcher-EACR Science Communication Prize
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin
WhatsApp
    Rachel Warden

    RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

    Features

    Highlights in Cancer Research: November 2023

    Community

    From hot springs to personalised cancer treatment

    Features

    ‘Science in Motion: Navigating Transitions’ – Winner of the 2023 EACR Science Communication Prize

    Who are we?

    The Cancer Researcher is an online magazine for the cancer research community from the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR).

    Sign up for the EACR's email newsletter for cancer researchers, usually sent every 2 weeks.

    Sign up for our emails
    Advertisement
    Advertisement
    Advertisement

    Popular articles

    How to Design an Award-Winning Conference Poster

    Before we get started, I want you to think about three things that you know about scientific posters. Think hard now. Done? Great! Now erase...

    Downloadable poster guide: Mental Health During Your PhD

    EACR top 10 cancer research publications

    The EACR’s Top 10 Cancer Research Publications: April 2019

    The Cancer Researcher
    ABOUT US
    The Cancer Researcher is published by the European Association for Cancer Research. The EACR is a professional membership association and global community for those working and studying in cancer research, with more than 12,000 members worldwide.
    Contact us: rachel.warden@eacr.org
    FOLLOW US
    Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter
    © European Association for Cancer Research
    MORE STORIES
    Agata Nyga

    A Day in the Life: “Curiosity is contagious”

    Mental health in the lab: “The person next to you might...