Visiting faculty testimonial: Connie St Louis
Dr Catriona Bonfiglioli gives an overview of Connie St Louis' scholar exchange from City University of London to University of Technology, Sydney.
Written by Dr Catriona Bonfiglioli, University of Technology, Sydney
"Connie's presentation was very thoroughly researched and posed some important questions about the role of vested interests in science communication and information subsidy."
It was a delight to host Mundus Journalism visiting scholar Connie St Louis, City University of London, on her exchange visit to University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), during which Connie provided UTS academics with valuable expertise, insights, ideas and constructive peer and student feedback.
She was awarded an Honorary Appointment at the University of Technology Sydney for the duration of her visit to UTS. Connie gave a very well-received and fascinating public research presentation on "The Impact of PR on Science Journalism. Is the UK Science Media Centre empowering or dis-empowering for the public?" This paper focused on the role of the UK Science Media Centre (SMC) and explores some of the wider issues, which are rarely discussed when exploring the impact of the UK Science Media Centres.
Connie's presentation was very thoroughly researched and posed some important questions about the role of vested interests in science communication and information subsidy.
Connie kindly observed a class of a new UTS Communication elective subject Media Power 54080 and provided peer review to subject coordinator Dr Catriona Bonfiglioli on the success and value of the in-class debate assignment. Connie served as an invited specialist journalist on an industry panel hearing post-graduate journalism students pitch their journalism major project story proposals (Subject ID 57185) providing thoughtful, practical and constructive feedback.
Connie kindly met with myself, as host, to discuss possible research collaboration on a new project aimed to explore how citizen journalism can be developed to innovate in the field of health journalism.
Connie provided me with some valuable ideas and insights from her extensive experience leading the Masters of Science Journalism at City University and thus contributed to the development of new elective subject Communicating Health and Science 54090 which I will be offering in 2017.
Many, many thanks to the Erasmus Mundus programme for sponsoring Connie St Louis's visit to the University of Technology Australia.