Akademiliv

Sahlgrenska akademins nyheter

På Svenska
University of Gothenburg Logotype
  • News
  • Notices
  • Calendar
  • Grants
  • About Akademiliv

Basking in Soapbox Science’s success

22 May, 2023 Leave a Comment

Kerryn Elliott during one of her presentations on DNA in strawberries. Photo: Ibuzor Ogbowuokara.

POPULAR SCIENCE. This year’s Soapbox Science event during the International Science Festival Gothenburg can only be described as a splendid success. An estimated total of 300 people or so stopped to watch and listen during the sessions in Nordstan, where brief presentations were being given by women researchers at Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg.

Soapbox Science is a British notion, inspired by Speakers’ Corner in London. The event, held to coincide with the International Science Festival Gothenburg, consists of female and nonbinary researchers giving scientific minilectures that the nonspecialists can understand, using simple visual aids. The scientists concerned address all passers-by in Nordstan who stop at the speakers’ “soapboxes”. Topics raised span a wide range, from rampaging infections to rising sea levels and climate change to complex (slow) carbohydrates.

Three committed participants this time were Kerryn Elliott, Angelica Ljungberg, and Blair Matarlo. They all stress the fun they had during the event, and are keen to share their experience, so that more people are inspired to take the plunge and join in next year.

DNA is visible with the naked eye

Kerryn Elliott

Kerryn Elliott, whose day job is conducting research in Erik Larsson Lekholm’s group, also took part last year in what was the first-ever occasion for Soapbox Science in Gothenburg. This time, she opted to make her presentation in Swedish, which was a little outside her usual comfort zone. Inspired by other presenters, she also chose to stand on the box when she was telling her audience about genetic material and showing them the DNA in strawberries.

“I had a DNA model with me — and a microscope, but I didn’t need to use that, since in fact you can see strawberry DNA with the naked eye. When you crush strawberries in soap and methylated spirit, DNA floats up in the liquid. Strawberries contain masses of DNA,” Kerryn (whose short talk was entitled “Would you eat DNA”?) relates.

Capturing people’s interest is easy

Angelica Ljungberg

Angelica Ljungberg, an assistant researcher in Jan Holmgren’s group, provided help at the event. Her tasks were to attract an audience to the presenters’ boxes and to assist with various props during the talks. As part of the event, on one of the stage platforms in Nordstan where Angelica also featured as a speaker, a panel discussion was held on what Soapbox Science is all about.

Assistant Angelica Ljungberg and speaker Blair Matarlo. Photo: Ibuzor Ogbowuokara.

“I saw it as a nice challenge and, when I         listened to a few of the presenters, I also got to learn a bit about subjects I wasn’t that familiar with. I’m glad I chose to take part, and next year I might join in as a presenter,” she says.

Angelica thinks it was easy to arouse people’s interest in the presentations. About three hundred people altogether came to listen to the various minilectures. Their age range was very wide, from small kids to young adults and seniors.

Useful practice

Blair Matarlo

Just embarked on her doctoral studies at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences (BioENV), Blair Matarlo nonetheless already has extensive experience of public speaking, from her previous job as a high school teacher in Japan. Her research concerns biological evolution, and she spoke about the process whereby resistance to pesticides emerges in agriculture.

“For me, Soapbox Science was a good opportunity to polish my ‘elevator pitch’ and get practice in adapting my message to different target groups. In due course, I hope to get the chance to influence farming, by talking to producers of various agricultural materials,” Blair says.

Blair Matarlo talked about how it is possible to outwit seed insects to protect crops. Photo: Ibuzor Ogbowuokara.

She made use of small dolls and insects made of paper, and illustrated the selection process that culminates in the emergence of pesticide resistance with brightly colored arrows.

Female and nonbinary

This year’s Soapbox Science attracted 12 presenters and 20 assistants. Anyone is welcome to take part as an assistant, but the role of presenter is reserved for female and nonbinary researchers.

“At scientific conferences, it happens all too often that various panels have an all-male composition — so often that we sometimes call them ‘manels’. But there are lots of women, of course, engaged in tremendously good science, and Soapbox Science is a fine opportunity to encourage and give prominence to female researchers as such,” Kerryn Elliott says.

Sukanya Raghavan and Astrid von Mentzer. Photo: Nikita Dutta.

This was the second time the Soapbox Science event had taken place in Gothenburg along in conjunction with the International Science Festival. Soapbox Science is financed by the Gender Initiative for Excellence (Genie) at Chalmers University of Technology. The initiators of Soapbox Science in Gothenburg 2022 were Anetta S Härtlova and Astrid von Mentzer, who took over as organizer of the 2023 event, with support from Sukanya Raghavan and Kerryn Elliott. Nicole Kerekes, a medical student, also contributed to the planning of this year’s arrangements.

An overview picture from the event in Nordstan. Photo: Oscar Carlsson.

Next year the 2024 event will be again held at Nordstan during the Science Festival in Spring 2024. If you are interested in joining the team for next year or would like more information, contact Soapbox Science on social media by searching for “soapboxscienceGBG” on Twitter or Instagram!

BY: ELIN LINDSTRÖM

By: Elin Lindström
Tagged With: Chalmers, vetenskapsfestivalen

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Add your own events in the Akademiliv Calendar

Master’s and bachelor’s thesis fair in health and technology

Registration for supervisors
Last day to register: October 4th.

Information from Sahlgrenska Academy Research Support Office

[UPDATED SEPTEMBER 20]
The Sahlgrenska Academy Research Support Office provides an overview of upcoming and current calls, nominations and events in an information letter. This letter is updated approximately four times per semester.

’20 minutes for researchers’ is back – see full autumn program

During 20 minutes over Zoom, the Biomedical Library gives tips on tools and services that can facilitate your research everyday life.

We are building at Medicinareberget

You will now find comprehensive information on construction projects that affect the Sahlgrenska Academy in the Staff Portal.

More news

The autumn ALF announcements 2023 have been published

25 September, 2023

GRANTS. The call for ALF positions for registered doctors has now been published on the ALF portal. The application period is October 19 to …  

Lower risk of haematological cancer after bariatric surgery

21 September, 2023

NEW STUDY. Obesity surgery is associated with a 40% lower risk of haematological cancer. This has been shown in a study at the University of …  

Education administrator – and extreme cyclist

21 September, 2023

LIFESTYLE. The heat of the Mojave Desert nearly ended his solo bike ride from Los Angeles to New York during the summer. The US trip is just the …  

Obesity particularly hard on people with bipolar disorders

20 September, 2023

NEW STUDY. The obesity pandemic is particularly hard on people with bipolar disorders. This has been shown in a study conducted at the University …  

New Head of the Faculty Office: Annelie Tobin

18 September, 2023

MANAGEMENT ASSIGNMENT. With twenty years of experience, primarily within education and internationalization at Sahlgrenska Academy, Annelie Tobin …  

The pandemic a tough time also for pharmacies

15 September, 2023

NEW STUDY. Customers showing up even when they were sick, not agreeing with the restrictions, and many new tasks for staff. These are factors …  

Joint research to develop municipal healthcare and social services

14 September, 2023

INTER-ACTION. A recent letter of intent signed between the University of Gothenburg and the City of Gothenburg opens up greater opportunities to …  

Axel Wolf new Director of the Centre for Person-centred Care

14 September, 2023

ASSIGNMENT. Axel Wolf, Professor at the Institute of Health and Care Sciences, has now become the new Centre Director of the University of …  

Helena Filipsson Nyström visited the Swedish Parliament – to draw attention to a neglected women’s disease

12 September, 2023

INTER-ACTION. Almost half a million Swedes have hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid gland. Four out of five affected are women and the number …  

Two announcements right now for DDLS Fellows at the University of Gothenburg

12 September, 2023

POSITIONS. The University of Gothenburg has two currently advertised positions within SciLifeLab & Wallenberg National Program for …  

More news...

Sahlgrenska Academy

© University of Gothenburg
PO-Box 100, S-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
Phone: 00 46 31 786 0000

About the website

Elin Lindström is editor for Akademiliv.
Please feel free to send your ideas and comments to akademiliv@gu.se

Sign up for the Akademiliv newsletter:

Send you tips to Akademiliv

Do you have a suggestion for news, grants, seminars or an education?
Send an email to Elin Lindström Claessen