A PhD student’s Internship with “The Naked Scientists”, to acquire communication skills and inspire new career paths beyond academia.
“The Naked Scientist” internship enabled me to acquire essential communication skills and inspire new career paths beyond academia in my PhD programme despite the overwhelming British winter.“
By Nadine Tambwe, PhD student, ICGEB Cape Town
My PhD journey began in 2023 while attending a seminar at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in Trieste. The speaker, colloquially known as ‘The Naked Scientist’, emphasised the importance of effective science communication. This unconventional focus within the typically rigorous academic environment resonated deeply with me.
During my first year, my research involved collecting samples and obtaining ethical consent from patients. This hands-on experience provided invaluable insights into the patient perspective. I was deeply concerned by the limited understanding of their diagnoses demonstrated by many patients, particularly those from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. In these settings, medical institutions often struggle to provide comprehensive information, creating a significant knowledge gap.
This experience motivated my application to the ICGEB-funded 8-week internship programme, driven by a desire to improve science communication and patient education.
Methods and Materials
My first day of the internship presented an unexpected challenge. Navigating to the upscale ‘village’ in Cambridgeshire proved more complex than anticipated, initially leading me astray to a British farm. Thankfully, after contacting Chris, I was promptly connected with Rhys, who swiftly guided me to the correct location and assigned me my initial tasks, successfully launching my internship programme.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has adopted a hybrid working model, allowing employees to work both in the office and remotely from home. While the option of working from home was available, it certainly wasn’t an excuse for slacking off, with regular calls and check-ins with Rhys, the executive producer who ensured consistent communication and maintained a productive workflow.
As a media outlet and mode of science communication, the show maintains a high standard of news communicated to the public. I made the embarrassing mistake of pitching a substandard story. Chris and the team genuinely care deeply about the show and during pitch sessions on a Monday, one truly must have conducted in-depth research into novel research. As a media source, we have access to a plethora of all the journals being published a week ahead of press releases. Articles, as I learned, with a global impact factor and interesting enough to capture the interest of the average listener make for a good story.
This translated not only in my own research background but also on a media platform such as this. A piece of advice to the next intern is to have a good eye for a story and to come prepared on Monday morning to pitch. Following the selections, each member is tasked with contacting the authors, scoping out the story and arranging a recorded interview. This process seemed rather daunting at first, however, the Naked Scientist moniker truly does go a long way; in my experience, scientists and researchers are highly esteemed and aren’t typically reluctant to speak to reporters. I have never encountered that; however, on the show, I was exposed to that right through. I was encouraged to repeatedly reach out to people for a story, for a quote. Next is scheduling the interviews; after the interviews are done, comes the fun part: editing the interviews for radio broadcast as well as developing the transcripts. Software to edit audio; all the intricate details that one doesn’t really piece together, which collectively make up a whole show.
During my first week of the internship, we had a meeting to discuss our learning goals. Recognising the time constraints, I felt it crucial to communicate my expectations. One key goal was to refine my writing skills, particularly in grant application formats, which differ significantly from scientific papers. The phrase “strip down the science” became a mantra for me. Once I internalised this concept, the writing process became much smoother. I deeply appreciate Chris and Rhys for taking the time to meet for coffee and provide script edits. This skill proved invaluable when writing an article that required translating complex scientific concepts for the public – a surprisingly challenging task!
Results and Discussions
As an intern, you’re thrown into a well-established system. Trust the process and take the time to find your footing to maximize your learning experience. I soon realised that covering a subject that I had no background in, such as Europa or zoology-related articles, meant I didn’t assume any knowledge and could be a better advocate for the audience. Reporting on such a diversity of science disciplines was truly an eye-opening moment; initially, I was apprehensive of this, especially as my PhD focus was on medical disciplines, and that’s the only language I thought I knew. However, the process works, and there are many fascinating fields out there to learn about. As my grasp on the style of article writing improved, my writing style itself improved in confidence and quality.
As the weeks progressed, the final objective of the internship started to come into focus, as I began preparing for my own show. Initially, I assumed I might stick to my comfort zone; however, we went with HIV/AIDs. Apprehensive at first due to the large stigma surrounding HIV, I began to read more. This, combined with the UK’s significant improvements in eliminating HIV transmission ahead of the UNAIDS goal, truly motivated me. The show would examine HIV on a global scale and assess progress towards this goal. We would look at how Sydney, Australia, had been successful, analyse the UK’s Action Plan and its status, and finally focus on Africa, where HIV/AIDS remains a significant problem.
I had to source and brief guest contributors and then confirm their participation. Each guest had a specific area of focus. With encouragement from Chris, I contacted Professor Salim Abdool Karim, a renowned South African epidemiologist who played a leading role in the COVID-19 response. While I saw him regularly on television, getting him booked on the show was a highlight I can’t adequately describe. It was a major confidence booster that made the experience feel real.
The entire process was an adrenaline rush, and this was for just one show! Finding and securing appropriate contributors is one of the trickiest aspects of show planning, often leaving me on the edge of my seat. After this, I had to write the programme script. I enjoyed listening to the raw interviews as soon as they were uploaded, and this all paid off after clicking the “Live” button! The show was broadcast live on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, then repeated on BBC Radio 5 Live, and in Australia, a podcast version was also published and made available on platforms like Spotify and iTunes. It was advertised on LinkedIn, X, and other social media platforms, making it accessible worldwide. I am proud that my hard work will be heard and read globally.
Prior to the internship, I had little exposure to science communication platforms, however it’s somethings that’s gaining momentum in South Africa. I was truly amazed at the amount of work that goes into producing a show. I remember observing Chris conduct an in-person interview on veganism with ease and finesse, which was awe-inspiring.
Once I started, it wasn’t all easy; however, with more time, the topics began to flow more naturally. The experience was truly amazing, significantly impacting how I view things. Not many people can say they interned for a science radio show and podcast in Cambridge for two months. My time with the team has enhanced my communication skills and helped me develop a writing style that I will carry forward in my career. Everyone was incredibly supportive and friendly, and my handler, Will, was always happy to assist, share transcripts, and provide templates that I will use in the future.
Concluding Remarks
Producing my own show was fantastic. I felt the topic was relevant, especially with World AIDS Day coinciding with the broadcast. I truly appreciated that the show highlighted an African perspective by featuring African-based guests to discuss the impact of the HIV epidemic. I am honoured by what I produced and am still amazed at how many people have reached out to me after listening to the audio piece or engaging with a social media post. Even back home in South Africa, at a conference, we were able to share the experience.
The first-hand experiences I gained as an intern were invaluable. Such opportunities do not easily come to pass. I appreciate all the time, effort, and patience the producers invested in me. All my i’s were dotted, and t’s crossed. Going forward, my mind is filled with thoughts of working in the field of science communication. There are so many scientific breakthroughs and so much research happening on the continent, yet many people are unaware of these. I am very interested in a career in science communication. I believe it is crucial for the public to be informed about scientific knowledge. We still have a long way to go, but my experience with the Naked Scientists remains fresh and will hopefully help shape my career path.
I believe this internship was well worth it, and the experience is still vivid in my mind. It was also precious to me in terms of future aspirations for those considering a career beyond academia. However, looking back, the experience reminded me of my passion for science and inspired me to tackle my PhD with renewed vigour so that I too can share my work on this platform.
To the next intern, time is precious at the show, eight weeks simply isn’t enough (Please Sir, Can I have some more)! I started finding my feet and getting into the swing of things, and before I knew it, the producers shouted “cut”.
Use the space to the best of your ability and network extensively. Reach out to as many guests as possible across different topics and try your utmost to conduct interviews with them.
Furthermore, this internship is truly essential within one’s PhD curriculum as it adds another dimension, especially during periods of PhD burnout. To Chris and his Team, I can only say a thousand thank you for your kind hospitality and mentoring.