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.
Academic staff
- Professor Emma Weitkamp, Professor in Science Communication, Co-Director of the Science Communication Unit
- Dr Clare Wilkinson, Associate Professor in Science Communication, Co-Director of the Science Communication Unit
- Dr Kathy Fawcett, Senior Lecturer in Science Communication
- Dr Laura Fogg Rogers, Associate Professor for Engineering in Society
- Andrew Glester, Lecturer in Science Communication
- Andy Ridgway, Senior Lecturer in Science Communication
- Professor Alan Winfield, Professor of Robot Ethics
Research staff
- Ana Bristow, Communications Project Coordinator for the Digital Engineering Technology Innovation (DETI) Skills Programme
- Dr Louisa Cockbill, Project Coordinator for Curiosity Connections Bristol
- Dr Laura Hobbs, Research Fellow
- Sophie Laggan, Research Associate, citizen empowerment and policy change for urban health and sustainability
- Ruth Larbey, Managing Editor for Science for Environment Policy
- Dr Elena Milani, Research Fellow
- Dr Margarida Sardo, Senior Research Fellow
- Nicky Shale, Science Writer and Communicator
- Carla Smith, Project Editor for Science for Environment Policy
- 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, Dr Emma Weitkamp.
Andreia Jorge
Thesis title: To understand how plant diversity communication is performed, both from the institutions’ perspective and communicators’ angle.
Supervisory team: Dr Emma Weitkamp (Director of Studies), Dr Hannah Little, Teresa Girão, António Gouveia.
Achintya Rao
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: Dr Emma Weitkamp (Director of Studies), Dr Clare Wilkinson, Dr Erik Stengler, Christine Sutton.
Andy Ridgway
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.
Helen Whitfield-Williams
Thesis title: Understanding the role of clinical engineering: Workforce development and training.
Supervisory team: Dr Antony Hill (Director of Studies), Dr Clare Wilkinson.
Completed PhD students
David Judge (completed 2022)
Thesis title: Re-thinking transformative visitor experience in a science exhibition: Implications for science communication theory and practice.
Supervisory team: Dr Clare Wilkinson (Director of Studies), Dr Emma Weitkamp.
Ann Grand (completed 2021)
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), Dr Clare Wilkinson, Dr Karen Bultitude.
Elena Milani (completed 2021)
Thesis title: Vaccine movements on social media: a visual and network analysis.
Supervisory team: Dr 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, Dr Emma Weitkamp.
Laura Fogg-Rogers (completed 2019)
Thesis title: Learning from engagement: exploring cultures of science communication at live science events.
Supervisory team: Dr Clare Wilkinson (Director of Studies), Dr Tim Moss, Professor Catherine Hobbs.
Laura Fogg-Rogers (DPhil 2016-2018)
Thesis title: Learning from engagement: exploring preferences for and cultures of science communication at live science events.
Supervisory team: Dr Tim Moss, Professor Catherine Hobbs and Dr Clare Wilkinson.
Wilasinee Tryiyarat (completed 2017)
Thesis title: Factors affecting engagement with informal science learning in Thailand: a regional perspective.
Supervisory team: Dr Clare Wilkinson (Director of Studies), Dr Emma Weitkamp.
Supara Kamolpattana (completed 2016)
Thesis title: Science museum explainer training: exploring factors that influence visitor-explainer interactions.
Supervisory team: Dr 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: Dr Emma Weitkamp (Director of Studies), Professor Judy Orme, Dr Clare Wilkinson, Dr Lucy Meredith.
Helen Featherstone (completed 2008)
Thesis title: Risk communication of climate change: Stakeholder objectives and public responses.
Supervisory team: Dr Emma Weitkamp (Director of Studies), Professor Frank Burnet, Dr Katy Ling.