Announcing the SciComm in Practice Fellowship for young Scientists in West Africa
The SciComm In Practice Fellowship is a partnership between STEMi Makers of Africa and SuperScientists to provide a dynamic three-month journey for beginning science communicators and scientists passionate about transforming science narratives and communicating the wonders of science. Participating fellows will engage and learn from leading members of the African science communication community. They will hone their communication skills and expand their professional networks. This fellowship is an extraordinary chance to engage with the science communication community and develop your ability to impact the general public.
The SciComm In Practice Fellowship will also empower 10 fellows to develop competitive skills that could be applied to translating technical research papers, science articles, etc.
The goal of the fellowship is to develop African scientists and science communicators that are able to communicate their work, research and knowledge to the non-scientific community and young people. Science drives economies and policy, and is just fascinating. We want more people to see the importance and wonder of science and maybe become scientists themselves. To be considered, you must have completed a Bachelor’s degree in any STEM related field within a minimum of 3 years post-study or you must be a Graduate of a Master’s level studies in a STEM field or currently pursuing a PhD in a STEM related field.
Female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.
SuperScientists is an award winning programme (NSTF “Oscars of South African Science” Awardee) and has been funded by the Canadian High Commission, the Sage Foundation, GENUS Palaeosciences, the National Film and Video Foundation, and others.
The fellowship consists of a series of biweekly webinars and activities spread across three months that will lead to the creation of a written piece of science communication. We expect the fellowship will take 5-10 hours a week of commitment. Commitment to the fellowship is key, only people who intend to complete the fellowship should apply.
Fellowship candidates will develop skills in interviewing to capture the significance of a scientist’s work for the general public audience and translate technical research papers into well-developed and compelling content including press releases, blog articles, social media platforms and podcasts. Fellows will assist in developing a content calendar that will feature various mediums and cadence of content for the duration of the Fellowship term
SuperScientists, an initiative of the South Africa based non-profit CodeMakers, was created to change the way young people see science, scientists and science champions. Ask learners to name a scientist and most will not have an answer. Those that do, will likely say Einstein, someone born nearly 150 years ago. We want to change that image in their mind to someone who looks like them and someone who is currently pushing the boundaries of knowledge and understanding. Young people live in a world of characters and imagination. Scientists, with amazing technologies at their disposal, have real superpowers. SuperScientists has depicted 60+ living scientists and champions in 9 different countries as superheroes and created media that has reached tens of thousands of young people – trading cards, a museum exhibit, augmented reality posters, a comic, an animated series (in progress) and more
The Capstone is a practical project that will put the skills you have acquired into use and will result in a piece of science communication that will get published on our respective websites and may be published through media houses. Fellows will be encouraged to profile a scientist and their research (some of which will be included as SuperScientists) or share a recent discovery as a science news article. Other projects may be considered. Projects will be ongoing, with layers of project preparation interspersed across modules of the SIPF, culminating in the completion of your capstone project. You must complete the work to graduate successfully.