Melissa in the Maclab Bistro. Outside, the Shaw Amphitheatre is being set up for a concert. Will Melissa go? "Maybe not. I've got a Science Communications dance party to go to!"
My name is: Melissa Sweet
I am a: freelance health journalist and blogger. I specialize in writing about public health and I’m a mad Twitterer!
I came to The Banff Centre because: Professor Penny Hawe, an Australian public health researcher who did the Banff Centre’s Science Communications course in 2010 invited me and another Australian, Dr Therese Riley, to come. We’re here not to participate but to observe the course, with a view to seeing if we could run a similar program in Australia. Before coming here I’d never heard of the Science Communication course, and I had no idea how wonderful it was, or what was involved. The faculty members of this program are the most amazing people. I can’t believe their stamina, their expertise, and their generosity with their time.
This morning I: sat in my room and blogged, because the program participants were setting up for their end-of-course presentations. I put up a number of posts at Croakey (the health blog that I moderate), where I also posted Penny Hawe’s comments about her Banff experience.
After lunch I plan to: see the first of the presentations by the Science Communications participants – it’s called ‘Walk on the Wild Side’. All the groups have to make a website which incorporates text, audio, and television, so it will be a presentation of what they’ve come up with. It should be very dynamic!
The highlight of my time here has been: seeing the energy and commitment of the Sci Comm group – some are scientists, others journalists, and the participant dynamic has been really interesting. They’re from different disciplines, have different skills, and are at different stages of their careers, but they’ve all worked together really constructively.
The best item on today’s menu is: the coffee in the Maclab. I’ve been eating at the Maclab a lot, which I’ve also used as my personal office! When I haven’t been sitting in on program sessions, I’ve been here with my laptop, getting my coffee delivered to me. To all Banff Centre visitors: I recommend the Maclab!
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