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Interview with the first ERC FRONTIERS science journalist at AIAS

A five-month ERC FRONTIERS science journalism stay of Samuel Schlaefli at AIAS has brought journalism and science in close conversation. How did it work out? AIAS has interviewed Samuel about his experience.

Samuel Schlaefli, ERC FRONTIERS Fellow at AIAS, Aarhus University.

The first science journalism fellow at AIAS Samuel Schlaefli came to AIAS on an ERC FRONTIERS programme that aims at bringing science and journalism closer together with a vision to help bridge the gap between complex scientific discoveries and public understanding.

As Samuel Schlaefli’s five-month stay comes to an end, AIAS has asked the Swiss science and environmental journalist about his experience in a solely academic research environment. Samuel’s reflections and experiences are interesting for journalists and scientists alike.

What did the FRONTIERS fellowship stay at AIAS bring to your work as a journalist?

First of all, a lot of wonderful new contacts. I was able to interact with dozens of researchers from AIAS, as well as from different institutes and departments at Aarhus University. A good network is one of a journalist's most valuable assets. So, I look forward to getting in touch with researchers I met during my fellowship for future projects. Secondly, it has allowed me to reflect on science journalism in general and my role as a science and environment journalist in particular. The many discussions with researchers and AIAS fellows about their experiences of working with the media and journalists have been very inspiring in this sense. For example, there seems to be a constant friction between the journalists' need to compromise on nuance and context so that the story fits a certain format, and the researchers' urge to bring in nuance, context and detail to explain their area of expertise.

What made the largest impression on you during your stay at AIAS?

I was impressed by AIAS's deep belief in the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration. I felt that there was a shared understanding at the Institute that different perspectives - across disciplines and cultures - enrich research outcomes in profound ways. I think the same is true for journalism; more than ever, we should integrate perspectives from the social sciences as well as the natural sciences, from indigenous experts, local knowledge holders and academic researchers in our reporting. I am convinced that in a world of polycrises and staggering inequalities, we need more global collaboration and dialogue between different disciplines. Only then will we be able to make sense of current developments and find solutions to some of the problems that threaten our existence on planet Earth, such as the climate and biodiversity crises. Another thing that really impressed me was the working atmosphere at AIAS. As AIAS director Andreas Roepstorff used to say, there is a way to be ambitious without being overtly competitive. You can feel this spirit in all the activities at AIAS. 

What did you achieve during your fellowship stay?

I managed to conduct more than 20 interviews with people working in the field of agriculture, ecology, sustainability and food systems. I attended seminars, workshops and field visits, some directly related to my project, others just out of personal interest. I will continue to work with some of the material I have collected over the past 5 months and have recently been working on three stories that will be published soon. The first is an in-depth piece on the destruction of the fjords in Denmark and how this is linked to intensive agriculture. I realised early on that many researchers at Aarhus University are working on different aspects of micronutrient excess in Danish land- and seascapes, mainly from intensive agriculture. Another recurring research interest is pigs, their welfare, economics, politics and cultural roots in Danish history and society. Therefore, I decided to use this wealth of knowledge at Aarhus University to write a compelling story about the intertwining of pig farming, ecosystem collapse in the fjords, political lobbying, economic pressures and resistance from civil society. In another piece, I am investigating the potential of introducing ants into agriculture as an alternative to synthetic pesticides. This work was inspired by the research of Joachim Offenberg, a world-renowned myrmecologist and senior researcher at Aarhus University, whom I met during my fellowship. Furthermore, the next episode of our climate podcast "treibhaus!", which I produce with a team of freelance journalists in Switzerland, will be dedicated to constructive climate journalism. It is heavily inspired by my exchanges with people from the Constructive Institute hosted here at Aarhus University.

Have you formed new connections, insights or ideas that will influence your future work?

As well as being in regular contact with AIAS fellows, I have also been in contact with fellows from the Constructive Institute and participated in some of their programmes. This led to co-organising a workshop for AIAS researchers to explore how they could communicate their research in the most effective and constructive way. This exchange has also influenced my own work. More than ever, I am looking for constructive ways to report on issues related to climate, biodiversity and food systems. I am also thinking about how to introduce this approach to journalists and researchers in Switzerland. At AIAS, I also learned how to foster an atmosphere of interdisciplinary collaboration. This experience will shape my future activities - as a journalist, but also as a mediator and facilitator of interdisciplinary dialogue between scientists and journalists. 

Would you recommend a FRONTIERS fellowship residency stay at AIAS, and why/ why not?

Yes, absolutely! My time in Aarhus has been a blast! I'm deeply grateful to everyone at AIAS for welcoming a journalist into this incredible academic community. Your enthusiasm, support and openness made this an unforgettable journey. I think AIAS is an extraordinary place for all science journalists who are interested not only in their particular project topic and field of expertise, but also in research, academia and interdisciplinary dialogue in general.

More about the ERC funded FRONTIERS science journalism programme here:

A vision of the ERC funded FRONTIERS programme for science journalists is to help bridge the gap between complex scientific discoveries and public understanding. This necessitates a close collaboration between scientists and journalists who with their own individual expertise can contribute to bringing accurate scientific information to the largest number of people.

As a host institution of this science journalism program FRONTIERS, AIAS offers residency stay from three to five months to a science journalist funded by the ERC FRONTIERS programme.

https://frontiers.media/
https://frontiers.media/fellow/samuel-schlaefli/

Contact

Lotte Holm, AIAS deputy director
E-mail: lho@aias.au.dk
Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, AIAS
Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B
DK-8000 Aarhus C
Denmark