Science in the headlines: Communicating COVID-19

We are living in a COVID-19 world and it’s a world which requires constant vigilance and awareness to keep up with the latest national health advice and guidance. Never before has it been so crucial to have skilled science communicators presenting technical information accurately and engagingly. On 29 February 2020, the first COVID-19 positive case was confirmed in Ireland. Almost 9 months on, we will look at:

·         How have scientists and public health experts performed in communicating COVID-19?

·         How well has the media communicated?

These are some of the questions we will bring to our experts and panellists for our annual Celsius Research Group Science//Society seminar on Friday, 13 November 2020. This year’s event will be hosted online by DCU’s Dr Padraig Murphy, Assistant Professor in our School of Communications and Chair of the MSc in Science and Health Communication.

The schedule:

Friday 13th November

11.00am            Event Intro by Dr Padraig Murphy 

11.05am            How have scientists and public health experts performed in communicating Covid-19? 

In conversation: 

Prof Luke O’Neill (Immunologist, TCD)

Dr. Kim Roberts (Virologist, TCD)

Kevin O’Sullivan (Science and Environmental Editor, Irish Times)

Dr. Claire O'Connell (Journalist and Science Communicator)

11.45am            How have the media performed in communicating COVID-19? 

Panel discussion with: 

Maria Delaney (Investigative Journalist, Noteworthy.ie)

Dr. Ida Milne (Historian of Infectious Diseases, Carlow College) 

Cormac Sheridan (Science and Technology Journalist)

Brian Trench (Science Communication Researcher)

 12.05pm          Q&A with participants 

 12.30pm          Event Summary and Close by Barbara Gormley, DCU