- This update is part of the FRONTIERS residency at the Carlos Simon Foundation. In her third month, Marit Bonne focuses on podcast editing, scientific storytelling and the challenges of communicating research through audio.
Spring is definitely in the air. My sunglasses are making more frequent appearances, I keep hearing myself say “¡Qué calor!” around the office, and the first mosquito of the year has already woken me up at night. In other words: I only have one month left of my FRONTIERS residency here.
Over the past few weeks, I have been busy recording and, above all, editing. Putting the story together and finding the right way to bring all the research to the surface. It has been challenging. I am used to writing stories on my laptop, in text form. Now, I spend hours listening to interviewees or, even worse, to my own voice while editing audio. Sometimes I need to step away for a while because I can no longer tell whether something sounds good or not.
Working with audio and creating the podcast has been a steep learning curve that I am truly enjoying, although it also makes me feel a little insecure at times. I suppose that is all part of the process.
A few thoughts and insights I have gained over the past three months:
- I love reporting on the process of “real” science, recording inside the lab and hearing about the passions, struggles and frustrations that come with research.
- Language plays a huge role, from doing science to explaining and communicating it, and even in how comfortable you feel expressing yourself. For example, I realized I felt less comfortable than expected hearing myself speak English in voice-overs.
- When science is still happening, it is often difficult to write about it because many results and experiments have not yet been published.
- I think that not only the research topics, but especially the originality of the methodologies used, are what make the work at the Carlos Simon Foundation stand out.
- Even though developing protocols and methodologies may not seem like the most exciting aspect for science communication, it is essential for advancing research in unexplored areas.
- This experience has also opened my eyes to international research beyond my small Dutch bubble.
I also had the pleasure of attending the Microbes in Women’s Health conference, where I followed several presentations and spoke with international researchers about microbial health in women and men. Yes, we talked about penises too. I really enjoyed being able to take part.
Meanwhile, my head keeps spinning with ideas and curiosity about research topics beyond the podcast itself. Some of them may eventually become separate articles. But first, I want to finish the podcast. One thing is certain: there is still so much to discover and talk about at the Carlos Simon Foundation.
One month to go.