Ananthapathmanabhan - my science communication career

Tell us about your career path since graduation and your current role

By the time I was finishing my MSc project, I got placed at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) as a science writer and podcast producer. It's been one year with IISc. Here I contribute to our campus magazine through writing part sciency and part life story related articles, and also write long form feature stores as solicited for the research newsletter, and draft press releases as and when required.

My forte is podcasts, and I am in charge of producing podcasts, training students to produce podcasts to talk about research works at IISc. I also handle campus events and walkthrough as part of the office of communication and public relations roles and responsibilities. Alongside I also do freelance science and policy reporting, and I have byline in online newspapers like The Hindu.        

How did your experience at Sheffield prepare you for your career?

The course is a good mix of journalism and science communication. I have had an interest in podcasts even before I joined Sheffield so I was clear to take up podcasts as my main work during my academics. So I joined Forge Radio, and the team was great and helpful. Along with Emeka, I hosted weekly science shows called "Science on a Plate" aired at the Radio Hub, on Tuesday mornings. Plus, I produced my own science podcasts. Here I used the creative media studio at the Diamond building. I used to spend extra hours to do the podcast recording with professors and scientists at the University. The podcast is called "Sound Science."

In short, it's the facilities and technical and academic advice that helped me grow at the University. It was easy to get help, all it required was a "walk in" or few emails to access the services. Beyond the academics the University, especially people at the School of Biosciences, International Relations at the Students’ Union did really help me to do what I wanted to do, One instance, is regarding my final year project. I wanted to do that in India, and the department was kind enough to help me through the processes. All in all, it was a good experience and exposure to world class facilities.

In short, it's the facilities and technical and academic advice that helped me grow at the University. It was easy to get help, all it required was a "walk in" or few emails to access the services."

Ananthapathmanabhan M S

Science Communication MSc graduate

What opportunities did you take advantage of whilst at Sheffield? 

I was part of Forge Radio and was the course representative and student chair at the student council meetings for my department. Forge Radio was the place where I started live broadcasting, and this helped me to ramp up my confidence as to speak live in a foreign language with humour, science while handling devices in front of me. At the department meetings is where I started to minute the meetings and document plans of action for the next meeting and also to represent the voices of my classmates to solve and bypass some course related issues.

Tell us more about your experience at Sheffield

The city is friendly, you can feel and hear a lot of "thanks", "how was your day", "let me help you". This is my one and only experience overseas. I should agree that there were cultural shocks, especially the winter which was not at all kind on me. While weather was cruel I would say, people helped me to manage the stress and gave ways how to make life easy in tough times. Tutors were all great, they could understand my concerns and also were so generous enough in in-person meetings to discuss on how to take the career path ahead. For instance, I did meet with Dr Jared Ahmad quite a lot of times, as I was super impressed by his journalism lectures and Dr Ahmad gave pertinent advice on how to write a research proposal. As I mentioned, Forge Radio folks too were helpful to produce radio shows.  

What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a similar career to you?

Be proactive. It might feel like we are not competent enough while we see the initial grades, but please do understand this is a learning curve and there's a fresh feeling after every turn. Also, make use of the library, and creative media studios to explore the world class technology to produce quality productions. Looking back I could see the content is a starting point and as a postgraduate student we have to go explore the facilities with the content we carry along with us after the lecture. Also, be wary of the weather and breathe well, and please do not be too hard on yourself and seek help, find your community and people. I would quote a last slide which Dr Ahmad from the School of Journalism used to keep at the end of his presentation (in each class): "All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy".