Episode #22
#22 teaser: Building a Career in Science Communication with Margot Wohl
What does it actually take to build a career in science communication ? Science communication is becoming an increasingly recognised career path, but getting started can feel like a classic catch-22: you need experience to get the job, but how do you get experience if nobody gives you the opportunity in the first place? In this teaser from my conversation with Margot , we talk about exactly that. Margot is an experienced science communicator who got into the field at a time when science communication was still far less established as a career. Her advice to anyone interested in entering the field is refreshingly practical: Do it before someone hires you to do it. Write a science blog. Make a video. Start a podcast. Experiment with different ways of explaining science. Find opportunities to communicate with audiences outside your immediate scientific community. In our conversation, Margot shares how she began building her experience, including discovering opportunities such as ComSciCon and the AAAS Mass Media Fellowship , and how informal experiences can eventually become the foundation for a professional career in science communication. We also talk about something that is particularly exciting about the field today: institutions are increasingly recognising the value of science communication and investing in it. From podcasts and digital media to public engagement, science outreach and accessible scientific storytelling, there are now more ways than ever for scientists and communicators to bring research to broader audiences. And perhaps most importantly, this conversation highlights a shift in how we think about science communication. It is not simply about making complicated science “easy.” It is about helping people understand why research matters, connecting scientific discoveries with everyday life, and creating curiosity about the world around us. If you are a scientist interested in science communication , a student wondering about careers beyond academia, or someone curious about becoming a science communicator , this conversation is full of practical advice and encouragement. And if you have ever thought, “I would love to do science communication, but I do not have the experience yet,” perhaps the answer is to start creating your own experience. Your first blog does not need to be perfect. Your first video does not need to go viral. Your first podcast does not need thousands of listeners. You just have to start communicating. Full conversation with Margot on Being a Scientist , where we explore her journey into science communication, what it is like to build a career communicating science, the changing landscape of science media, and why making science accessible matters coming soon! #ScienceCommunication #SciComm #ScienceCommunicator #ScienceCareers #STEMCareers #ScienceOutreach #ScientificCommunication #SciencePodcast #beingascientist #videopodcast
