Abstract

How can journalists work with researchers to tell powerful science stories? How can multimedia be used to improve public access to scientific knowledge? And what is the potential for investigative journalism when journalists work with scientists to challenge environmental and social injustices? In this talk, science journalist and ERC Frontiers Fellow Samuel Schlaefli will give an overview of two journalistic projects that involve research and researchers in very different ways. For a web-based multimedia feature, he followed One Health pioneer and epidemiology professor Jakob Zinsstag on a journey to discover the causes of the Covid-19 pandemic and the potential of the One Health approach to prevent further pandemics. In the second case, an investigative story about the environmental and health damage caused by a copper smelter in Namibia, he worked with scientists to challenge the sustainability narrative of the companies involved. 

An informal workshop 'Reconnecting science and society through journalism' on science communication is held, also on 2 December, at 13.00-14.00 in topical extension of this AIAS Seminar 'Beyond the headlines: Reconnecting science and society through journalism.' To attend the afternoon workshop, please register by 29 November 2024 at 12.100 (noon) here.

Short bio of Samuel Schlaefli

Since 2007, Samuel Schlaefli has worked as a freelance reporter, editor and multimedia storyteller. In 2022, Samuel Schlaefli was awarded the Prix Média for excellent science journalism by the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) for his multimedia report "One Health - with a new understanding of health against the next pandemic”. Read more here: (https://onehealthstory.com/).

What is an AIAS Seminar?

The AIAS Seminar Series is a session of seminars held by the AIAS fellows, AIAS Visiting or Tandem Fellows or by other speakers proposed by the fellows. In each seminar, a fellow will present and discuss her/his current research and work-in-progress to an interdisciplinary audience for 30 minutes, closing off with 30 minutes for questions, comments and discussion.

All seminars are in-person and held in English. To attend online, please contact Sofia Bentsen at sofia@aias.au.dk by 9:00am on the day of the semimar as the latest to request a link.