University of Leicester scientist awarded prestigious media fellowship

Published by University of Leicester Press Office for University of Leicester in Education and also in Communities

A University of Leicester scientist will be making headline news thanks to a prestigious media fellowship.

Dr Becca Wilson, a scientist involved in public and business engagement projects in the Space Research Centre at the University, has been given the opportunity to work at the Irish Times.   She is one of ten scientists selected from 180 applicants to win a 2012 British Science Association Media Fellowship, the first to be held by the University of Leicester.  Her three-week placement with the Irish Times in Dublin begins on Monday 13th August. 

Becca works as a project scientist for the National Space Academy, collaborating with educators to use the context of space to teach the sciences to secondary school students and their teachers.  She also works for the Space IDEAS Hub, an initiative that draws on over 50 years experience in space research at the University to assist regional businesses with their technological challenges. 

Becca said, “I’m excited to have been given the opportunity to work at a broadsheet newspaper.  It is a chance to gain first-hand experience of the processes involved in print media and to follow the paper trail of press releases that scientists like myself send out.

“Public understanding of space research is an important aspect of my job, through educational projects and social media.  I think the British Science Association media fellowships offer a fantastic opportunity for scientists like myself to learn new communication skills from media professionals.”

“Working as a journalist , tracking down science stories through to writing the final article, will be a great insight into how to better communicate the wonderment of science and its relevance to our everyday lives.”