Delighted to share the first blog from Stempra’s Communications Training Day 2026 – a fabtastic behind‑the‑scenes read on what it’s like to help run the day and do “networking without the ick”. If you’d like to be part of 2027’s #TeamMingle, keep your eyes peeled! stempra.org.uk/resources/ne...

Congratulations to our Rob Dawson Highly Commended recipient – @duncan-banks.bsky.social, academic tutor at the @openuniversity.bsky.social. Duncan is a champion for the value of science communication and the importance of making neuroscience inclusive.

Congratulations to our Rob Dawson Mentorship Award winner – Morgane Danielou, Head of Global Communications at @targetmalaria.org! Morgane had really gone above and beyond to have a positive impact on the career and life of her mentee.

We’re deeply saddened to share that our friend and colleague @roobina.bsky.social has passed away after several months of illness. Ruth was a long-time Stempra member, former Chair, and a generous, creative force in science communication. We’re collecting memories at [email protected]

⏰ Final callout for Stempra members! Our member survey closes on Mon and we’d love to hear from you before it wraps up. Your responses help shape what Stempra does next - events, resources, and more. Every voice counts. 💬 👉 Check your inbox for the email titled ‘Stempra Member Insights Survey’.

👋 Reminder for Stempra members - our virtual AGM is coming up soon! If you’ve not already signed up, check your membership email titled ‘Stempra AGM March 2026’ for the details and link to join. Whether you’re a long‑timer or newly joined, we’d love to see you there and hear your perspective!

The Stempra Member Insights Survey is open, your voice shapes what comes next at Stempra. 💬 The survey closes on Monday 23/03/26. Haven’t filled it in yet? Head to your inbox and search 'Stempra Member Insights Survey.” It only takes 5–10 minutes and it’ll help steer where we go next together. 💡

💡 You’ve seen the email, now’s the moment to have your say! Stempra’s Member Insights Survey is open and every response helps shape what’s next for our network. Haven’t filled it in yet? Pop into your inbox and search for 'Stempra Member Insights Survey'.

Nominations close today for the Rob Dawson Mentorship Award! Great mentors shape careers, build confidence, and strengthen our community. If someone has done that for you, now’s the perfect time to thank them. Learn more and submit your nomination here - stempra.org.uk/membership/r...

Nominations close on Friday for the Rob Dawson Mentorship Award! If you’re fortunate enough to have someone who inspires, guides and champions you, now’s the perfect time to thank them. Learn more about the award and submit your nomination here 👇 stempra.org.uk/membership/r...

Enjoyed the #stempraCTD? Don’t forget to come along to our virtual AGM to have your say on what Stempra does over the next year. Check your membership emails for 'Stempra AGM March 2026'. It has the details and the sign-up link. Hope you can make it!

Still processing everything from yesterday 🧠 Massive thank you to our speakers and everyone who showed up, asked questions, and made it feel like a community. Couldn't make it this year? Follow us for news about future events throughout 2026. See everyone at the next event 🎉

What a day at #stempraCTD - sessions wrapped and the catch up is in full swing at the Euston Flyer. Huge thank you to our speakers, attendees, @eurekalert.bsky.social and @wellcometrust.bsky.social, and the Stempra CTD subcommittee for making it happen.

Professor David Spiegelhalter wrapping up the day with his masterclass on communicating statistics. Focusing on what the numbers mean (and what they don’t), be upfront about uncertainty, and choose comparisons people can actually picture. #stempraCTD #SciComm

Powerful session on Building trust in the age of misinformation, loads of takeaways for staying credible in a noisy landscape. Snippet of some of the key themes: don’t just debunk, prebunk and build trust through transparent sources and relationships. #stempraCTD #SciComm

An ace session on Career Journeys in Science Communication - honest, energising, and full of those “oh, I’ve been there” moments. Loved hearing how different people’s routes into #SciComm can be, the pivots, the fingers being crossed, and staying open to the next move. #stempraCTD

A fantastic chat on making comms visible and impossible to ignore. “After putting out a story, go back to it and find out what came out of it.” It shows the value + let's you find out what worked and what didn't. Up next - the fab twists and turns that are in a #SciComm career. #stempraCTD

The first panel delivered! 🔥 "Make sure you're pitching stories to the right person.” Harsh but fair. Exactly what we needed to hear. Quick break then rolling straight into exploring how we champion the impact of comms across our organisations. #stempraCTD #SciComm

Room is getting filled and fueled☕🥐 About to start the journalist panel and people are already queuing with questions. This is going to be good. #stempraCTD #SciComm

⏰ Today’s the day! Nominations for new Stempra Committee members close at 12:00 (midday) Tue 24 Feb. If you’re planning to put forward a nomination, have a quick look back through your Stempra membership emails for the nomination forms, get it signed by two Stempra members, and send it over.

Your inbox has homework (the good kind) check your membership email for the Member Insights Survey link. It will help shape: 📅 The events we run 📚 The resources we produce 📰 Various other improvements Deadline 17:00, Mon 23 March 2026. There’s an optional opt-in raffle for a £75.

72 hours for our Communications Training Day 🎯 Quick logistics for anyone attending on Thursday: → Doors open 09:15 → Enter via the MAIN Gibbs Building entrance (NOT the Wellcome Collection’s) → Fully accessible building → Networking drinks after at Euston Flyer from 17:00

"Why do we need a press or comms officer? Can't we just put it on social media?" If you've heard this from a senior leader, you're not alone. Getting buy-in from people is one of the hardest parts of the job. That's why we have a full session (in 4 days!) on it. stempra.org.uk/resources/ev...

stempra AGM: Wed 25 March 2026, 12:30–13:30 🗓️ Hear what we’ve been up to, vote on key decisions + elect the new committee members Check your membership emails for the registration link + nomination form (deadline: Tue 24 Feb, 12:00)

When research is misinterpreted or oversimplified, science communicators are left trying to rebuild trust – but how? There’ll be a session on building trust in the age of misinformation at our Communications Training Day, in 6 days: stempra.org.uk/resources/ev...

If you’re lucky enough to have someone who inspires you, guides you, and always has your back-thank them by nominating them for the Rob Dawson Mentorship Award by Friday 6 March. Say thank you by nominating them here - stempra.org.uk/membership/r...

Career paths in science comms are rarely linear, and that's what makes them interesting. In 8 days, we're hosting a panel with people who've moved between academia, healthcare, academic publishing, and philanthropic science. 🎟️ More info below: stempra.org.uk/resources/ev...

Great mentors shape careers, build confidence, and strengthen our community. If someone has done that for you, nominate them for the Rob Dawson Mentorship Award before Friday 6 March. Find full details here: stempra.org.uk/membership/r...

Thank you to EurekAlert! for sponsoring our Communications Training Day (CTD) — we’re really grateful for their support (and to our host Wellcome). 🤝 Stempra members: you also get 20% off a EurekAlert! annual subscription. Details 👇 stempra.org.uk/about-us/eur...

If you’re fortunate enough to have someone who inspires, guides and champions you, now’s a lovely time to thank them. Nominate them for the Rob Dawson Mentorship Award by Friday 6th March. Learn more and submit your nomination here - stempra.org.uk/membership/r...

You know that moment when you've crafted what you think is the perfect press release... and hear nothing back? At our training day, journalists from BBC, The Sun, PA Media, and Express will tell you exactly what happens. Check out last year’s insights in our blog 👇 stempra.org.uk/resources/ne...

Huge announcement - David Spiegelhalter is speaking at our CTD 🎉 Stats are at the heart of many science stories, and David is one of the very best at making them clear, accurate and engaging. We know this will be one of the standout sessions of the day. 🎟️Register: stempra.org.uk/resources/ev...

Last year's Communications Training Day storytelling session taught us something crucial: know your audience before you start working on a story. Sounds obvious? Read more tips in the blog here stempra.org.uk/resources/ne... Coming to this year's Communications Training Day?

There's financial support available that covers travels and additional childcare costs to attend our Communications Training Day. Email [email protected] for more info. If you know someone who'd benefit from this but hasn't heard about it, please share this post. 🎟️ stempra.org.uk/resources/ev...

Our blog, first shared last year, explores how colleagues at Tohoku Medical Megabank developed a PR guide for genomic research, grounded in PPI and best practice. A paper on this work is now in the Journal of Human Genetics – revisit the blog and find the link 👇 stempra.org.uk/resources/ne...

Stempra’s been developing recommendations for best practice use of generative AI in research comms. We love our community and want your feedback before finalising! Join our lunchtime session Wed 28 Jan, 13:00–14:00. Sign up 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stempra-gu...

Last month we heard from three science comms freelancers about what it’s like to leap into freelance life – from getting paid to balancing your week and building your network. Clare Green has rounded up their best tips in a short blog for some light holiday reading. stempra.org.uk/resources/ne...

Still smiling after last night’s end-of-year party! 🎉 Such a joy to catch up with so many faces and to put our knowledge to the test! Huge cheers to our quiz champions - Kerry Noble, Hayley Dunning, Caroline Brogan, Fiona Lethbridge and Simon Levey - who triumphed with some quick thinking! 🏆👏

Looking forward to rounding off 2025 at our end‑of‑year science quiz and party tomorrow (Thur 4 Dec)! Join us from 18:30 at the Alwyne Castle in Islington (83 St Paul’s Rd, N1 2LY) for drinks, nibbles, and a 2025‑themed quiz at 19:30, with plenty of time to catch up with the lovely community!

Great to see those of you at our recent webinar with Jennifer Holshue from @eurekalert.bsky.social. We’ve published a blog pulling together key survey findings plus Jenn’s practical tips for getting the most out of EurekAlert!. 💡 Read it here: stempra.org.uk/resources/ne...

The Stempra end-of-year get-together is on Thursday 4 December at the Alwyne Castle, Farringdon. Join us from 18:30 for a science comms catch-up. 🔭 We'll have a 2025-themed quiz (with prizes!) starting at 19:30 before celebrations continue into the evening. Sign up: stempra.org.uk/resources/ev...

Quick reminder! Our jam-packed season of events rolls on with “Freelancing in Communications” this Wednesday (19 Nov), 12:00 - 13:00. 🙌 Three experts share practical advice and real-life insights on making the move to freelance in #scicomm. Find out more here: stempra.org.uk/resources/ev...

Considering freelance or hybrid roles in science comms? Experts are ready to answer your questions. Catch the event online, "Freelancing in communications: tips and tricks," on Wed 19 Nov, 12:00–13:00. Hear from experienced pros and get advice! Sign up👇 stempra.org.uk/resources/ev...

It’s back! 🙌 Join us for Stempra’s end-of-year science quiz on Thu 4 Dec, 18:30 at the Alwyne Castle, Farringdon. Drinks, nibbles, prizes & festive fun to round off 2025 🎉 Sign up 👇 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1869997154...

Reminder for our short-noticed-but-still-interesting-and-should-attend-event with EurekAlert! It's this Wed, 29 Oct, 13:00–14:00 (GMT). There will be insights from @eurekalert.bsky.social’s 2025 journalist + PIO surveys with Jennifer Holshue. Register👇 stempra.org.uk/resources/ev...

Reminder for our next Stempra Lunch and Learn! Join @springernature.com's Lisa Boucher, to explore creative ways to write about your work and engage different audiences. 📅 Thu 6 Nov, 12:30–13:30 Register 👉 stempra.org.uk/resources/events/stempra-lunch-and-learn-science-writing-workshop/

University of Glasgow’s Kasia Kokowska shares how to handle commsplainers - and maybe even learn from them. Full blog here 👉 stempra.org.uk/resources/ne...

What do journalists want in a science release — and how can PIOs get the most from EurekAlert!? Join us soon on Wed 29 Oct, 13:00–14:00 (GMT) for insights from @eurekalert.bsky.social’s 2025 journalist + PIO surveys with Jennifer Holshue. Registration 👉 stempra.org.uk/resources/ev...

Our next STEMPRA Lunch & Learn is on Thurs 6 Nov, 12:30–13:30! Looking at ways to improve science writing skills beyond (while still including) the classic press release. It'll be led by Lisa Boucher (Comms Manager for Nature, @springernature.com). Register 👉 stempra.org.uk/resources/ev...