Best Orinoco Communications Podcasts (2025)

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Sarah Carter-Bell | Knowledge Exchange Unit, UK Parliament 53:22

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9d ago53:22

53:22

If the 'holy grail' of research communications is reaching policy makers - how can we make that happen? How do policymakers interact with evidence and how can we tailor our research comms to In this episode of Research Unravelled Peter speaks with Sarah Carter-Bell from UK Parliament's Knowledge Exchange Unit about the work that she and her team ar…

1
Alexander Buxton | University of Oxford 55:35

1M ago55:35

55:35

The research output from universities is a unique competitive advantage - why would you not want to communicate that as effectively as possible? How can the impact of those comms activities be tracked? And how can research communicators be better supported by their institutions? In this episode of Research Unravelled Peter is joined by Alexander Bu…

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Helen Jamison & Claire Bithell | CROSPO Report 48:19

2M ago48:19

48:19

In 2022 the Science Media Centre published an insightful report on the changing role of science press officers at UK universities. In this episode of Research Unravelled Peter speaks with two people who were instrumental to the report's creation: Helen Jamison and Claire Bithell. The conversation reveals the often invisible but critical role these …

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Tracey Brown | Sense about Science 46:58

3M ago46:58

46:58

Why do many risk messages fail to connect with audiences? How can communicators avoid oversimplifying complex risk information while still making it accessible to audiences? What does it mean to take a "public-led, expert-fed" approach to science communication? In this episode Tracey Brown, Director of Sense About Science, talks about the charity's…

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Nick Hillier | The Academy of Medical Sciences 58:23

4M ago58:23

58:23

What counts as a 'meaningful' engagement when involving patients and public with research? How can we elevate the voices of people with lived experience as experts? How can we support those people who agree to tell their own stories for impact? In this episode Peter is joined by Nick Hillier, Director of Communications and Engagement at the Academy…

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Research Unravelled Extra 15:46

5M ago15:46

15:46

In these monthly extra episodes Peter is joined by co-host, Bianca Winter, to share listeners' thoughts on our main guest episodes, and to discuss the latest news and trends from the world of research communications. In this episode we... Reflect on the last guest episode with Lorraine Bridges - Head of Campaigns at the National Institute of Health…

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Lorraine Bridges | National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) 34:45

5M ago34:45

34:45

What differentiates a 'campaign' from business-as-usual comms? What are the most important ingredients for running a successful communications campaign? How do you build partnerships based on trust and reciprocity? In this episode Peter is joined by Lorraine Bridges, Head of Campaigns and Deputy Director of Communications at the National Institute …

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Research Unravelled Extra 26:03

6M ago26:03

26:03

A 2025 Welcome from Peter and Bianca at Research Unravelled Extra! In these monthly extra episodes Peter is joined by co-host, Bianca Winter, to share listeners' thoughts on our main guest episodes, and to discuss the latest news and trends from the world of research communications. In this episode we... Reflect on Peter's interview with Catherine …

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Catherine Foot | Phoenix Insights 43:14

7M ago43:14

43:14

How can we transform the national conversation around what it means to live longer better lives? How do we avoid drowning in nuance when trying to understand complex systems? What does it take to relentlessly pursue a single issue in order to bring about change? And how can you build a coalition to bring others on board? Join Peter Barker in conver…

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Research Unravelled Extra 23:33

7M ago23:33

23:33

Welcome back to Research Unravelled Extra! In these monthly extra episodes Peter is joined by co-host, Bianca Winter, to share listeners' reflections on the latest guest episodes, and to discuss the latest news and trends from the world of research communications. We want this to be a space where the research comms community engages and interacts w…

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Catherine Gregory | Ada Lovelace Institute 39:20

8M ago39:20

39:20

How do you craft consistent communications in a field as rapidly evolving as AI and data? Can we shift the narrative from perceived future existential risk to actual present day harms? What's the best way of making your messages resonate with policy makers? Join Peter Barker in conversation with Catherine Gregory - Head of Communications and Conten…

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Research Unravelled Extra 21:59

8M ago21:59

21:59

Welcome to Research Unravelled Extra! In these monthly extra episodes Peter will be joined by co-host, Bianca Winter, to share listeners' reflections on the latest guest episodes, and to discuss the latest news and trends from the world of research communications. We want this to be a space where the research comms community engages and interacts w…

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Join us at Research Unravelled 2:26

9M ago2:26

2:26

Come and listen to our new podcast, Research Unravelled. We'll be digging into the complexity that lies at the heart of research communication and hearing from expert practitioners about how they navigate or unravel that complexity. Research Unravelled is hosted by Peter Barker and brought to you by Orinoco Communications - the creative agency wher…

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Ali Bailey | The Francis Crick Institute 33:57

9M ago33:57

33:57

How do you communicate science so complex that even scientists find it hard to understand? How can communicators cope with the vast number of digital channels and platforms used today? What does 'values-based communication' mean and how can it help you develop a fantastic relationship with your audiences? Join Peter Barker in conversation with Ali …

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Research Unravelled Trailer 1:29

9M ago1:29

1:29

Welcome to Research Unravelled - a brand new podcast where we take a deep dive into the impactful world of research communications. In particular we’ll be exploring the complexity that lies at the heart of this particular field and hearing from communications experts about how they navigate and overcome or unravel that complexity. Research Unravell…

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Beyond the buzzword: how storytelling can transform research communications 34:45

1y ago34:45

34:45

It's the final episode of Research Comms! To mark this momentous moment, Peter takes a trip through six years of archives to explore a topic that has featured prominently throughout the series: Storytelling. With insights from past guests, including Dame Uta Frith, Kat Arney, Will Storr and Jessica Fox, the podcast unpacks why stories have such a h…

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Rewriting the future of dementia: building a community of researchers with a shared purpose | Lucy Wilson | UK Dementia Research Institute 33:57

1y ago33:57

33:57

Despite the alarming statistic that 1 in 3 people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime, research into the neurodegenerative disease has historically been underfunded compared with other areas of medical research such as cancer. In this episode of Research Comms, host Peter Barker explores the reasons behind that with Lucy Wilson, Dire…

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Making Sense of Sensemaking: A framework for communications that cut through the noise | Liz Neeley & Ambika Kamath | Liminal 35:51

1y ago35:51

35:51

Sensemaking is a powerful communications tool that provides a framework for understanding the world in which we live and shaping the stories that we tell. In this episode of Research Comms, Peter is joined by Liz Neeley and Ambika Kamath, the founding members of science communications collective Liminal, to unpack sensemaking and its potential for …

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How an economic institute's video strategy helped it reach millions of people around the world | Matthew Kulvicki | Institute for New Economic Thinking 33:07

1+ y ago33:07

33:07

It's no secret that video can be one of the most powerful ways of sharing research with audiences online. But creating a successful strategy that will get your videos seen by the right people isn't always so straightforward. One research organisation that has achieved huge levels of public engagement with its own video content is the Institute for …

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Avoiding the Spiral of Silence: The Case for Talking About Climate | Eric Fine | Yale Program on Climate Change Communication 39:08

1+ y ago39:08

39:08

Over the past few decades, the evidence to show that climate change is happening, that it’s caused by human activities, and that we need to take urgent action to limit its impact, has gathered at an overhelming rate. But research into the best way to communicate that message has lagged behind. That’s changing, thanks in large part to the work of or…

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Generative-AI: Establishing guidelines for how to use it | Amy Mollett, Barney Brown and William Kerslake | University of Cambridge 44:52

1+ y ago44:52

44:52

Generative-AI tools, like ChatGPT, are increasingly embedded in the day-to-day work of research communicators. At the University of Cambridge the senior comms team has published a set of AI guidelines, created in consultation with staff across the university. In this episode of Research Comms, members of the working group that put the guidelines to…

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Trust: how can research communicators earn the trust of the public? 33:53

1+ y ago33:53

33:53

In this episode, host Peter Barker reflects on the unique archive of over fifty Research Comms episodes to bring together insights from those conversations around the theme of trust. Whether we’re discussing vaccine hesitancy, climate scepticism, young people’s engagement with science and scientists or the rise of conspiracy theorists, all of these…

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Changing landscapes: telling stories from Antarctica against a backdrop of climate change and an evolving media | Athena Dinar | British Antarctic Survey 24:43

2y ago24:43

24:43

Athena Dinar is Deputy Head of Communications at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) where she’s spent over two decades conveying the captivating magic of Antarctica and the vital research scientists carry out there. In this episode of Research Comms, Athena speaks with us about the shifting narratives surrounding the climate crisis and how digital …

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Unpacking ‘impact’: What does it mean, and how do you know if you’re achieving it? | Prof. Mark Reed | Fast Track Impact 32:29

2y ago32:29

32:29

Professor Mark Reed is a Professor and Research Centre Director at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) as well as the founder and Chief Executive of Fast Track Impact, an organisation that provides researchers with evidence-based tools and training to empower them to use their work to change the world for good. In this episode of Research Comms, Mark h…

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How can research-adjacent professionals pave the way for a more collaborative research and innovation ecosystem? | Sarah McLusky | Research-Adjacent Consultant 33:03

2y ago33:03

33:03

Sarah McLusky is a Research-Adjacent Trainer and Consultant who works with universities in communications and engagement, education and curriculum enhancement, training STEM ambassadors and organising large scale outreach events, as well as hosting the recently-launched Research Adjacent podcast, among others. In this episode of Research Comms, we …

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Fusion energy: how to prepare the world for transformative technology | Celestine Cheong | UK Atomic Energy Authority 38:11

2y ago38:11

38:11

Celestine Cheong is Head of External Communications at the UK Atomic Energy Authority. In this episode of Research Comms she talks about the work of UKAEA to push for the delivery of sustainable fusion energy, about the challenges of communicating science that is at times, very complex, and about managing public expectations around the development …

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How can we improve public understanding of artificial intelligence to ensure it works for all? | Sophie McIvor | Alan Turing Institute 23:13

2+ y ago23:13

23:13

Sophie McIvor is the Director of Communications and Engagement at the Alan Turing Institute, the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence. She has been in the role since the Institute opened in 2015 and is spearheading its new strategy focused on public engagement with AI. In this episode of Research Comms we discuss why…

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Attitudes of young people to science | Katherine Mathieson | British Science Association 29:12

3y ago29:12

29:12

In March 2022 the British Science Association published a report examining the attitudes of young people in the UK to science. In this episode of the Research Comms podcast, the BSA’s outgoing Chief Executive, Katherine Mathieson, talks about the reports findings, speculating on why young people do not feel sufficiently engaged with science, the im…

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What can we learn from the Covid pandemic about crisis communications? | Glen Nowak | Grady College 28:38

3+ y ago28:38

28:38

It's been more than two years since the Covid pandemic took hold. And although it may have more surprises in store for us, there is hope that the worst has passed. So now seems a good time to start thinking about what lessons we can learn from the experience to better prepare us for future pandemics and public health crises. How we communicate the …

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Growing your community on Linkedin | Laura Hannan | Pitch121 36:17

3+ y ago36:17

36:17

In this episode of Research Comms, Laura Hannan shares the wisdom that she’s gleaned from 15 years of experience on Linkedin and gives her top tips on how communicators can make the most out of the platform to grow their network and drive engagement with their organisation’s research.By Peter Barker

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Harnessing the power of social media | Amy Mollett | University of Cambridge 30:47

3+ y ago30:47

30:47

In this episode of Research Comms Amy Mollett talks about the exciting early days of blogs and twitter, of her social media work at LSE, of the digital services team in Parliament. Tips for getting started, maintaining digital wellbeing and tracking what’s important abound.By Peter Barker

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Communicating research for the development sector and NGOs | Suzanne Fisher-Murray | Christian Aid 33:46

3+ y ago33:46

33:46

In this episode of Research Comms, Suzanne Fisher-Murray talks about the differences between communicating research in the development sector and academia, the power of radio for sharing stories and influencing behaviour, what truly participatory communications look like and the value of creating personas for strategic communication with communitie…

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Telling stories about innovation | Ashley Jennings | Texas Innovation Center 25:31

3+ y ago25:31

25:31

Managing Director of the Texas Innovation Center, Ashley Jennings, talks about the thriving innovation and startup scene in Austin (and across Texas) and how the innovation center is helping transform great ideas into valuable products. A big part of that is training founders in how to tell their stories in a compelling way, to raise awareness, gen…

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Is 'data sonification' the new frontier for science communication? |Matt Russo | System Sounds 21:56

3+ y ago21:56

21:56

Matt Russo is an astrophysicist, musician and sonification specialist. He teaches physics at the University of Toronto and has toured schools with sonifications that bring parts of the universe to life. He founded the sci-art project SYSTEM sounds, through which he works with NASA to sonify data collected in and about the cosmos. In this episode of…

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How to read statistics (and knowing when to trust them) |Tom Chivers 33:30

3+ y ago33:30

33:30

Tom is science editor for the digital news magazine UnHerd. His writing has featured in The Guardian, Telegraph, New Scientist and BuzzFeed. He covers an array of subjects, mostly science, but he also delves into politics, foreign affairs, sport, culture wars - pretty much anything that piques his interest. He's won two statistical excellence in jo…

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Creating new narratives around Artificial Intelligence |Dr Kanta Dihal| Global AI Narratives Project 33:54

4y ago33:54

33:54

This week’s guest on the Research Comms podcast is Dr Kanta Dihal, a Senior Research Fellow at Cambridge University’s Leverhulme Centre for Future Intelligence, where she runs 'Global AI Narratives', a project exploring the many ways in which artificial intelligence is perceived by cultures around the world. Presented by Peter Barker Produced by Or…

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The art of data visualization | Stefanie Posavec and Miriam Quick 28:48

4+ y ago28:48

28:48

This week’s guests are data designer, Stefanie Posavec, and data journalist, Miriam Quick. We talk about their new book, about how constraints can encourage creativity, and they give their tips on how researchers and communicators can improve their own data visualizations. ------------ Presented by Peter Barker Produced by Orinoco Communications ww…

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How to create effective online public engagement events | Dr. Jamie Gallagher 29:02

4+ y ago29:02

29:02

Dr. Jamie Gallagher is a science communication and evaluation expert. In early 2020 Jamie’s freelance schedule, which was dominated by live workshops, talks and events all over the world, emptied. In this interview I talk to Jamie about how he pivoted to take his science communication business online and how he’s been helping others navigate that t…

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Communicating the biggest story of our times | Alex Buxton | University of Oxford 41:42

4+ y ago41:42

41:42

This week’s guest on the Research Comms podcast is Alex Buxton, Head of Strategic Communications at the University of Oxford. We discuss what it was like to be parachuted into his role just after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and to do so at a time when the University was involved in one of the biggest news stories of our times - the race to d…

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How to combat the 'crisis of science communications' | Prof. Andy Miah | University of Salford 31:37

4+ y ago31:37

31:37

This week’s guest is Professor Andy Miah - Chair in Science Communication and Future Media at the University of Salford. In our conversation we discuss how best to engage people with unfamiliar technological advances, why it’s so important for all academics and researchers to have some kind of a public presence, as well as delving into what Prof. M…

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Going viral on Tik Tok with vaccine video content | Dr. Anna Blakney 30:03

4+ y ago30:03

30:03

This week’s guest is Dr. Anna Blakney, a vaccine scientist and recent viral sensation on the social media platform, TikTok, where her videos about vaccines have racked up millions of views since she started creating them just a few months ago, gaining her hundreds of thousands of followers. She uses her platform to teach people about the Covid-19 v…

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#BlackInSciComm Week and STEM diversity | Raven Baxter aka Raven the Science Maven 36:42

5y ago36:42

36:42

This week’s guest is Raven Baxter, aka Raven the Science Maven. Raven is a molecular biologist and science communicator who, as well as sharing her love of science with the world, is also a huge champion of greater diversity in the STEM sector. One of the most notable ways that she’s challenge stereotypical ideas of what a scientists should look an…

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How to build an engaged community | Dr Susanna L Harris 38:14

5y ago38:14

38:14

This week’s guest is Dr Susanna L Harris, a former microbiologist turned science communicator. Susanna has been developing a large, engaged community of followers on social media ever since she started PhD Balance, an organisation that she set up in 2018 to address the needs of graduate students who are experiencing problems with their mental healt…

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The future of research conferences 23:04

5y ago23:04

23:04

COVID has meant that scientific conferences, as we’ve previously known them, have ceased to exist. Many events have responded by shifting their activities online, creating new virtual conferences, where attendees can join from the comfort of their own homes, wherever they might be. So what does this mean for the communication of research going forw…

1
Championing women in STEM | Suw Charman-Anderson | Ada Lovelace Day 47:27

5y ago47:27

47:27

In this episode of the Research Comms podcast, Suw Charman-Anderson tells the story of how Ada Lovelace Day started over ten years ago and how it has evolved over time. She also discusses how the COVID19 pandemic is prompting the event to return its online roots this year, and how we can all be part of the struggle to increase diversity in STEM. Pr…

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Dispelling myths about animal research | Wendy Jarrett | Understanding Animal Research 31:19

5y ago31:19

31:19

In this episode of the Research Comms podcast, Wendy Jarrett, CEO of Understanding Animal Research, talks about changing attitudes towards animal research over the past thirty years, about some of the most common myths that opponents use in arguments against animal research, and how scientists should communicate with members of the public about the…

1
Medical Research Charities: Communicating in a Crisis 19:05

5y ago19:05

19:05

Medical research charities have been hit hard by the disruptive effects of the pandemic, with many fundraising events cancelled for the foreseeable future and charity shops shuttered for months during lockdown. Plummeting income has meant they've had to pause or stop research projects, withdraw future funding and lay off staff. In this episode Pete…

1
Is listening the best antidote to vaccine scepticism? | Prof. Heidi Larson | Vaccine Confidence Project 37:24

5y ago37:24

37:24

In this episode of the Research Comms podcast Heidi Larson, Professor of Anthropology Risk and Decision science at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, discusses the causes of loss of confidence in vaccines all over the globe, in the hope that we might develop a more constructive way to engage with people who have doubts over vaccina…

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How to 'prebunk' misinformation | Dr Sander van der Linden | University of Cambridge 44:02

5y ago44:02

44:02

In this episode of the Research Comms podcast Cambridge University psychologist, Dr Sander van der Linden, discusses the latest surveys that he and his colleagues at the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication have conducted exploring this question. We also talk about his recent study into how people respond to uncertainty in communications, a…

1
What makes a conspiracy theorist? | Dr. Asheley Landrum | Texas Tech University 44:16

5y ago44:16

44:16

In this episode of the Research Comms podcast psychologist, Dr Asheley Landrum, from Texas Tech University unpicks some of the conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic and puts them in the context of her wider research into why certain people believe in conspiracy theories and how they’re spread. Presented by Peter Barker Produced by Orinoco…