How the coronavirus pandemic is changing virtual science communication

Excerpt: Sarah McAnulty, a science communicator based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, started Skype a Scientist in 2017 to connect researchers with individuals, classrooms, families and public groups such as scout troops or library groups across the world. Since it launched, Skype a Scientist has held sessions with more than 27,000 classrooms in 73 countries. As scientists have left their laboratories because of the coronavirus pandemic, and schools have shut worldwide, participation in McAnulty’s science-communication programme has tripled. She describes how her non-profit organization has changed over the past few months. What is Skype a Scientist? We connect scientists with any group of adults or kids interested in speaking with a scientist about general categories, such as marine biology, or specific topics, for example sharks.

Researchers flocked to join Skype a Scientist after COVID-19 closed their labs. The squid biologist who founded it explains how the science-communication platform has adapted.

Sarah McAnulty, a science communicator based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, started Skype a Scientist in 2017 to connect researchers with individuals, classrooms, families, and public groups such as scout troops or library groups across the world.

Since it launched, Skype a Scientist has held sessions with more than 27,000 classrooms in 73 countries. As scientists have left their laboratories because of the coronavirus pandemic, and schools have shut worldwide, participation in McAnulty’s science-communication program has tripled. She describes how her non-profit organization has changed over the past few months.

What is Skype a Scientist?

We connect scientists with any group of adults or kids interested in speaking with a scientist about general categories, such as marine biology, or specific topics, for example, sharks.

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