Outreach and public engagement

I am passionate about sharing the wonders of science with others and thrive on the challenge of getting people excited about it. As a researcher, I believe it is my duty to not only lead scientific discovery but also to share that knowledge with the public. Throughout my career, I have been actively involved in outreach efforts, including designing and delivering presentations and demonstrations to schoolchildren through programs like the University of Manchester’s Pivots of Change and the Pint of Science international outreach program. I’ve even taken my passion for dementia research to local pubs! I’ve also created two websites, one for more scientific audiences and one for the general public, and have worked with my university’s social media team to create videos and other online content. My outreach videos alone have been viewed over 150,000 times! Come check out some of my other outreach contributions and let’s explore the exciting world of science together.

School visit with Dr. Michael Daniels. Toxic compounds (hacky-sacks) and the Brain (rope) can be seen in the background.

Some more examples:

• Interviewed by Smithsonian magazine on the effects of plastics on wildlife 2021.
• Interviewed by ABC New South Wales radio on the effects of plastics on wildlife 2021.
• Ocean project podcast. The negative effects of plastics on humans and wildlife Listen here 2021.
• Presenter at the House of Lords event to raise awareness about the need for funding for dementia research. June 2019. Details of the event can be found here.

• Speaker for the University of Manchester Stories event, January 2019. This event was to over 400 PhD students.

The organisers invited excellent speakers to tell their stories to inspire the next generation of thinkers. Speakers included Dame Prof. Nancy Rothwell and Chancellor Lemn Sissay. The title of my talk was: Usain Bolt shaves his legs.

• Dementia research podcast – career development as an ECR in dementia -> listen here
• Presenter for the British Science Association outreach event- Science at the Movies. Topic: Do we use 10% of a brain and can we drug ourselves smart? February 2018.

• Presenter for the Manchester branch of Pint of Science, an international science outreach event. Topic: Why do we get old? Ageing, Alzheimer’s and Animal Models. January 2018.

• Presenter for the Manchester branch of Pint of Science, an international science outreach event. Topic: The coast of England, radioactive brains, bleach and other Alzheimer’s disease related things. May 2015.

• Speaker and experiment demonstrator for the Pivots of Change outreach programme. Class and assembly presentations at St. Luke RC Primary School and St. Ambrose Barlow RC High School. Topic: The history and future of science. February 2015.

• University of Otago Christchurch Seminar Series. Topic: Cannabinoids and brain damage. June 2012.

• Interviewed by Rebecca Rutherford for Critic Magazine on cannabinoid research. May 2012. http://www.critic.co.nz/features/article/1924/jack-rivers

• Interviewed on Radio One on my research. Topic: Cannabinoids as a therapeutic target.  September 2011. http://r1.co.nz/podcasts.php.

• Creator of science blog websites www.jackauty.com established January 2012 and www.mereconjecture.com established January 2016.