Let's Talk SciComm

128. Listen To This If Your Paper or Grant Just Got Rejected

Rejection hurts -  whether it’s a journal decision, a grant outcome, or yet another “unsuccessful” email landing in your inbox. In this short Listen to This If episode, Jen and Michael talk honestly about the emotional rollercoaster of academic rejection, why it’s not a reflection of your worth (or your work), and how to keep going when the disappointment hits hard.They share practical strategies for making the most of the effort you’ve already put in, learning from feedback (when you’re ready for it!), and normalising rejection as a part of the research cycle, not a personal failure.If you’re feeling frustrated, deflated, or questioning yourself after a knockback, this one’s for you.In this episode, we cover:Why rejection is a normal (but still awful) part of academiaHow low funding rates and high competition skew outcomesThe importance of venting and feeling miserable - briefly!Turning reviewer feedback into your next stronger submissionWhy trying again (and again) really does get easierYou can find more great advice here:https://patthomson.net/2020/08/31/dealing-with-rejection/https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/how-to-do-academia/202207/coping-with-rejection-in-the-academic-worldhttps://researcher-hub.sydney.edu.au/funding/plan-for-funding/reframing-rejection.htmlhttps://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/six-steps-overcoming-setbacks-and-rejection

127. Interview with cell biologist and science communicator Tina Katsaros

This week we have a wonderful conversation with Tina Katsaros who is a PhD student at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, working under Dr Sarah Annesley and funded by ME Research UK. She is a cell biologist investigating abnormalities in mitochondrial function, metabolism and signalling in cells from people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Beyond the lab, Tina also has a strong passion for science communication and making research accessible to all. Alongside her research career, Tina has actively promoted both her research and research journey through radio shows, interviews, and blog posts. She has also organised a range of science communication workshops aimed at strengthening oral and written communication skills for researchers. In addition, she has participated in outreach programs such as In2Science and STEMpals, which are designed to encourage primary and high-school students to explore and pursue careers in STEM. Her commitment to clear and responsible science communication has been recognised through multiple awards, including wins in the Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) and 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competitions. She has also been invited to speak at conferences internationally, delivering oral presentations both nationally and abroad. Tina is a huge advocate for effective science communication and believes science shouldn’t be siloed within academia, but instead be shared openly whenever and wherever possible, and in ways that empower public understanding. You can follow Tina and find out more about her work here: https://scholars.latrobe.edu.au/tkatsaros https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinakatsaroshttps://x.com/tinakatsaroshttps://bsky.app/profile/tinakatsaros.bsky.social https://www.rrr.org.au/shared/broadcast-episode/29013/898000/1074000VYT 2024 Entry: Cause-and-effect in cells from people with ME/CFS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guy6zS9QRxQhttps://www.meresearch.org.uk/interview-with-tina-katsaros/https://www.meresearch.org.uk/research/cause-effect-relationships/https://www.meresearch.org.uk/spend-christmas-with-me/https://www.meresearch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Breakthrough_Autumn_2024.pdf

126. Listen To This If…You need to write a 100-word lay summary

A 100-word lay summary sounds simple, but getting every word to count is harder than it looks. In this episode, Jen and Michael share practical tips for writing summaries that actually make people care. From finding a strong hook to focusing on impact (not methods), they talk through how to make your research clear, engaging, and accessible for non-expert readers. Perfect for anyone tackling grant applications, scholarships, or research submissions.You can find more great advice here:https://www.elsevier.com/en-au/connect/in-a-nutshell-how-to-write-a-lay-summaryhttps://researcher.life/blog/article/how-to-write-a-lay-summary-10-tips-for-researchers/https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1500882112Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/z9x2

125. Interview with artist, author and scientist Dr James O’Hanlon

We’re so excited to welcome you to Season 17 of Let’s Talk SciComm. We have some fabulous episodes in store and can’t wait to share them with you. What better way to get the season started than a conversation with the multi-talented Dr James O’Hanlon? James is a scientist, author, artist and communicator with a background in behavioural ecology. He has published over 30 academic papers and his popular science writing has appeared in ABC News, Australian Geographic, The Guardian, and The Sydney Morning Herald. He has travelled around Australia and the globe uncovering the secret lives of insects, spiders and other mysterious animals. If it is small, elusive, and lacks a backbone, James has an insatiable desire to find out what it is and what it does. His debut popular science book “Silk and Venom: The incredible lives of spiders” was released in 2023 through New South Publishing and his public art installations can be found across country New South Wales from Forbes to Boggrabri.You can follow James and learn more about his work here: https://jamohanlon.com/https://www.instagram.com/jamohanlon/https://www.facebook.com/jamohanlon/https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-o-hanlon-1b817582https://unsw.press/authors/james-ohanlon/Check out all of James’ books here: https://jamohanlon.com/books/Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/9cx2

124. Listen To This If…. You need to say no to an invitation

Saying no can feel awkward, uncomfortable, or even selfish, especially when you want to be helpful or the opportunity feels exciting. In this episode of Listen to This If, in just 5 minutes Jen and Michael unpack how to decline invitations thoughtfully, professionally, and without burning bridges.They share a simple, practical formula for saying no with kindness, discuss how to weigh shiny opportunities against your time and energy, and explore why short-term discomfort is often better than long-term resentment. Along the way, they talk about building your “no muscle,” creating opportunities for others, and why toddlers might secretly be the best role models for boundary-setting.If you’re feeling over-committed, stretched too thin, or struggling to turn things down, listen now!You can find more great advice here:https://www.science.org/content/article/learn-when-and-how-say-no-your-professional-lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/the-asymmetric-brain/202312/afraid-of-saying-no-to-an-invitation-dont-behttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-03/the-graceful-art-of-saying-no/11563272