Dr Iona Beange

Full Time Science Communicator, University of Edinburgh

Dr Iona Beange transformed public engagement from a fulfilling extra-curricular activity into a promising and rewarding career. Find out about her journey...

What is your research area?

I previously completed a PhD in Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of Edinburgh (The role of the hippocampus in learning and memory for context.)

Describe your public engagement (PE) experience:

During my PhD, taking time out for science communication re-motivated me and reminded me why my research was exciting. It also helped me to become more confident in publicly presenting information and talking to people I didn’t know.
Learning to talk about my research also helped me to explain what I was doing to friends and family.

Did you receive any training and/or support for your PE work?

• University of Aberdeen: Support from Techfest / Setpoint who organised events / lined up opportunities.
• National Museums Scotland: Science show presenter in Connect Gallery
• University of Edinburgh (Transkills): Research Communication in Action Course (training day and experience in schools); Communicating Science to non-specialists Course; Post-Graduate Science Communication Team (provided payment and opportunities to partake in science communication events).
• Edinburgh / Glasgow: Ecsite (Facilitation Skills Workshop); Edinburgh International Science Festival (Science Presenters Course); BBC (Media Skills Day); Knex Training (use of Knex in an educational setting).

Is there anything you wished you had?

Someone to help me gather together all the potential opportunities. I missed quite a few simply because I didn’t know about them.

Where have you found the funding for PE?

• EPSRC
• Wellcome Trust
• Scottish Government
• Darwin Trust

Do you feel PE has helped or hindered your career progression?

Taking time during my undergraduate and post-graduate degrees to do science communication activities has helped me to build up enough experience to move fully into this sector upon graduation.
However, even if I had stayed in research, I would have continued to do outreach work as it is so rewarding and motivating – and a moral responsibility to those who are paying our wages!

What percentage of your time do you spend doing PE work?

Now - 100%

• 50% School of Chemistry – Superbugs project
• 50% School of Biology - SIBE

Previously – 5% (During PhD Research)