Last year, I received an email from my mentor inviting me to register for a workshop organized by The Prasidium. I was thrilled at the prospect and eagerly made plans, counting down the days until the event. However, I had mistakenly marked the wrong date in my calendar. Instead of the workshop date, I focused on a week or two later, thinking I had plenty of time to prepare. I went about my usual routine on the day I believed the workshop was scheduled. As I prepared to settle in after running some errands I had set for myself, I noticed my mentor had attempted to contact me. I quickly checked my messages and realized I had missed her call; the workshop was happening without me. It was only 30 minutes before the workshop ended when I read her message: “Dear Adenike, today is the workshop is starting now. Do you know where it is? We are currently on the second floor of ÖCO. I processed the communication and thought I must have had an oversight about the exact day of the workshop. I briefly considered rushing over to the venue, but even if I did, I would arrive more than three hours late. This was so unlike me; I always strive to be punctual in all my dealings and appointments. I also don’t like to make excuses for failure, particularly not for this setback, but I needed to be honest. Ultimately, I missed the workshop due to my oversight and miscalculation, so I sent a message and an email to apologize.
Fortunately, I was given a second chance; another workshop was scheduled for February 26th, and my mentor kindly reminded me of it and told me not to forget this time. I was happy and diligently wrote down the date and time to ensure I wouldn’t forget and miscalculate the appointment again. As the day approached, my anticipation grew, especially with my mentor providing reminders about this significant occasion, so I was there as early as possible. The workshop was worth attending as it explored fundamental questions about what the University of Oldenburg can and should look like in 10 or 15 years. First, there were presentations by experts in the field, including Alexis Angelis, Dr. Bror Giesenbauer, Jörg Miller, Dr. Sigrun Nickel, and Julia Wandt. The first future cycles allowed everyone to participate in discussions of their choice. This was followed by a gallery walk, where participants from different discussion groups could read about and learn from what other groups had discussed. They then discussed this with a partner to see what lessons they could learn and what contribution they could add to the ongoing discussions.
Next, there was a second future cycle to explore the questions and comments received from the gallery walk further. Participants indicated which discussions should be prioritized for future perspectives and buttress more on the ongoing debate within the circle. Finally, there was a transfer fishbowl comprising an inner cycle, where experts spoke about the most pressing issues and shared the lessons learned at the end of the workshop. Individual participants were also given a token to contribute to the inner cycle by speaking or asking questions while awaiting answers to their inquiries. The conversation spanned a broad range of topics focusing on the university’s role in shaping a livable future, sustainability, social responsibility, communication strategies, and institutional strategy of the university in unlocking the vocational and academic education in the future. Overall, as the president has stated, the future is approaching, and all of this information and knowledge during the workshop will be attainable within the next 10 to 15 years.
I applied for a science communication workshop advertised by the University of Saarland. I had even forgotten about it when an email arrived a month later informing me that I had been selected for the workshop, with a hotel reservation and meals covered. At first, I could not remember applying for such a workshop, but then I remembered applying for it a while ago. Oh, I am so busy now that I can’t make it there. Besides, I received an email two days after applying saying my profile didn’t match what they were looking for. The email said I should contact them if they had assumed wrongly, but I never did. I thought to myself, “It’s fine, I am busy anyway. So what changed? Hmmm. Also, the workshop is all the way in the far south, and I am in the North. It would take me a day to get there, so I am not really up for it. But wait, who is organizing the event? Oh, it’s Fulbright Germany. That sounds very appealing; everyone knows Fulbright is prestigious. I also hope to win the Fulbright in the future for my projects. Why not? If they selected me for this workshop, I must take advantage of it.
The Chemistry department of the University of Saarland hosted the event.
And so, I started looking forward to the event, and gradually, the day came. Voila, I was in Saarbrücken, a beautiful city in southwestern Germany, about 8 hours away from Oldenburg, even with the intercity train. Of course, not only was the event’s organizer essential, but the topic of science communication was also critical and discussed daily, particularly in the Western world. I hope the Global South will take it seriously soon, as their unique perspectives and challenges can enrich the global discourse on science communication. But wait, what exactly is science communication, and why is it imperative? Many people from different parts of Germany, and even some from the US, were there. Why did they have to leave their busy schedules to come for such an event? What is the take-home message? Now, regarding the science communication event organized by Fulbright, how was it? I will discuss all of these in this blog, so sit back and read it to the end. I, however, promise to take only a little of your time.
I took some pictures on my way to Saarbrücken. There are beautiful mountains that one cannot resist capturing, especially because of the lush greenery of the whole place.
Science communication refers to conveying scientific ideas and research to the general public. It aims to bridge the gap between the scientific community and society, ensuring that people without a scientific background can understand the implications of research and its relevance to their daily lives. It is how scientists talk about their research to non-experts or non-scientific audiences. As a scientist, it is essential to communicate your work to people outside your field and show that it is relevant to society.
This photo was not taken during the workshop, but it was taken at another important event I attended last year. The photo credit goes to the Falling Wall Foundation.
Apart from communicating with people face to face, scientists are utilizing diverse platforms to communicate their work to the public, including social media platforms such as X, YouTube, and Instagram, as well as podcasts and blogs. These mediums provide opportunities to explore scientific topics and facilitate interactive discussions. Science communication is not to gain public recognition but to educate the public to promote knowledge sharing and reduce misinformation. For instance, public engagement activities such as citizen science projects promote direct interaction between scientists and non-experts. Today, scientists communicate their findings using such techniques as storytelling, visuals (like infographics), podcasts, and simplified language to ensure that their work resonates with non-specialists, fostering greater trust in science and encouraging evidence-based decision-making. Furthermore, science communication is not just a tool for education but can be used to improve public engagement and influence policy. No wonder many people attended the event, and I was excited to be a part of it.
My Name Tag 😍
The science communication event attracted participants from different parts of Germany and some from the United States. Why did they leave their busy schedules to attend such an event? The answer lies in the growing recognition of the importance of science communication in today’s world. Academics see it as crucial to making their work accessible and impactful. Participants wanted to learn new techniques and exchange ideas about engaging with the public better. Science communication isn’t only about being an expert in your field but also about how well you can articulate your findings and the broader significance of your work. Such events also serve as networking opportunities where like-minded individuals can share best practices and inspire others to improve their outreach efforts. The Fulbright is known to allow for knowledge exchange among researchers worldwide.
This image shows the task we had to discuss about ourselves and our work within just one minute.
Now, let’s talk about the science communication event organized by Fulbright. It was a well-structured event that combined theoretical insights at the start of the workshop with practical exercises towards the end. Every session was designed to equip attendees with the skills to engage the public effectively. The event balanced a focus on key communication techniques like storytelling, visuals, infographics, and social media use, with opportunities for participants to implement some of these techniques. For instance, we were encouraged to do an Airplane pitch by introducing ourselves to our colleagues professionally and then talking about our research within one minute, assuming we met them on the plane. This is also known as the famous elevator pitch, where you briefly talk about yourself to someone within 30 seconds with the intent of making a connection with them, not forgetting points that are peculiar and important to you. We were advised to switch partners and discuss the same idea during this exercise. I struggled to communicate concisely on my first attempt but improved on my second and third attempts.
The award ceremony was one of the workshop’s most exciting parts. It was also inspirational.
My take-home message was that the Fulbright-organized science communication workshop in Saarbrücken was an excellent experience. The facilitators provided valuable insights and practical tips on effectively communicating complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences. I also learned new techniques that I can use to engage my students. Guess what? I used one of the techniques during the first class I taught, and it was really nice. I also got a bonus experience because an award ceremony was held during which two great scientists were given the Fulbright Cottrell 2024 awards, and I was lucky to be present at the event. The two awardees also articulated their prospective research in ways everyone could understand. Overall, the workshop reinforced the importance of clear and engaging scientific communication. Whether you’re a seasoned researcher or a student, learning how to communicate your work effectively is essential for making a broader impact. Thank you for reading until the end. I hope I didn’t take so much of your time!
WASH stands for water, sanitation, and hygiene and we all know that these are fundamental to our health. WASH according to WHO is essential for our health and well-being. WASH contributes to our livelihood, keeps us away from hospitals, and increases our life span. Unfortunately, there is no adequate WASH in developing countries, especially in Nigeria, hence diseases like diarrhea, cholera, and malaria are still prevalent in the country. Did you know that diarrhea disease claims more than 150 thousand lives annually in Nigeria? Most of the lives belong to children under the age of 5. The prevalence of the disease is therefore 19% in the country all because more than 70% of the population do not have access to safe water and a clean environment. Safe water should be accessible, available whenever possible, and free from contamination. Without safe water, it is almost impossible to maintain good sanitation and hygiene.
Did you also know that more than 93 thousand people had chlorella in Nigeria in 2021 out of which 3298 of them died due to the disease? In 2022, there were 23,550 cholera cases, most of which were concentrated in the North. I am sure you are aware that 68 million malaria cases and 194,000 malaria-related deaths are reported annually in Nigeria. Other rampant diseases in the country include dysentery, hepatitis A, and typhoid. So, you may be wondering, what have these got to do with WASH? Lack of adequate water forces residents to use and consume water contaminated with sewage water which carries various pathogens that cause diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid. In the case of malaria, the lack of adequate WASH creates an environment suitable for the profound breeding of mosquitoes that transmit the parasite from one person to the other.
To reduce the burden of these diseases, the government should take the responsibility of providing adequate and safe water to all communities, schools, markets, and workplaces including healthcare facilities and other public places. It is essential to ensure that everyone has access to clean and safe water sources and that hygiene and sanitation practices are integrated into community development programs. Don’t be surprised that many communities and some healthcare facilities do not have access to safe water. Marketplaces and local bus stations are the worst. What I am even saving? you can barely move around local bus stations (popularly called garages) like Oshodi, Ikorodu, Ojuelegba, etc. Everywhere smells of people’s urine because there are no toilets around.
As responsible citizens, we can play a significant role in reducing the spread of these diseases by practicing good WASH in our daily lives. First, we need to educate ourselves about the importance of WASH in maintaining our health and keeping our communities clean. Secondly, please always wash your hands with water when inside and disinfect your hands when outside because water may be unavailable. Thirdly, let’s reduce our waste generation and dispose of them properly. Do not dispose of your wastes into drainages as this creates stagnant water that facilitates the spread of disease within our communities. In addition, always use toilets or latrines and avoid open defecation or urination. Open defecation or urination is common in local bus stations and markets. When you defecate or urinate openly, there are 100 % chance that you will contaminate the available surface or underground water that people depend on. By working together and doing the right thing, we can ensure that our communities remain healthy and safe from infectious diseases.
Now let me ask you this, as a citizen, how else do you think you can enhance WASH practices with limited water resources and access?
Everything Health and Education 