Creators
Let's create
Our yearly meetup for scicomm professionals (and aspiring scicomm professionals). This year's theme? CREATORS: Who are we as scicomm creators, how can we up our game? Let's create!
This year, we will be looking inward instead of outward. We will focus on:
(1) ourselves: why do we create, what are our ambitions, incentives, expectations?
(2) our role: how our identities, beliefs and values influence our work
(3) our formats: practical sessions on the creating different scicomm formats
With the support of
Schedule
9.30 AM
Doors open
Start with a coffee!
10.00 AM
Welcome
Welcome to the 6th edition of BE SciComm
10.15 AM
A life in scicomm
This year’s keynote features Martijn Peters, science communicator, PhD in biomedical sciences, and Science & Weather coordinator at DPG Media. In this keynote interview, we reflect on Martijn’s journey from the lab to the (social) media spotlight and explore what it means to be a creator within the evolving Belgian science communication landscape.
11.00 AM
Purpose
Interactive session on ambitions, incentives, dreams and realities when navigating the scicomm field
11.30 AM
Us & them
We pick the brains of two researchers about how our self-identification as science communicators, influence the success of our communication efforts. We talk to Jasper Van Assche (Université Libre de Bruxelles) who studies group think & intergroup conflict, and to Daniel Silva Luna (University of Augsburg) who studies how emotions, beliefs, values, and identities affect science communication.
12.30 PM
Lunch
Food and networking
13.30 AM
Parallel sessions
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Creating... shorts
How do you turn complex science into a 60-90 second vertical video that people actually watch? Where do hooks, captions, and visuals do the heavy lifting, and what gear do you really need? In this parallel session, you can ask all your questions to a prolific scicomm-er using shorts on different media.
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Speaker: Wietse Chanet (INBO & Phasmedia)
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Creating... a podcast
Should your idea be a podcast? What format fits your audience? And how do you record, edit, and distribute without a studio? From concept and episode arcs to trailer scripts, show notes, and transcripts, this practical session helps you design a pilot and a simple production plan you can sustain.
Speaker: Bradley van Paridon (host and producer at Two Brad for You)
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Creating... meaningful interactions
How do you move beyond one-way messaging to real dialogue? When do co-creation, workshops, and live Q&A work best? And how do you prepare for tough questions? Learn facilitation tools, ethical guardrails, and evaluation tips. You’ll leave with a blueprint to run your next live event.
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Speakers: Sara Verstraeten (Koi) & Michele Fontana (Koi)
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Creating... a book
Should I write a book? How do I write a book? What does a (popular science) publisher want? If you have always wanted to write a book, this session is for you! Fire away at experts on written science communication: a publisher and an author. In an interactive Q&A workshop, they will guide you through every question, big and small, in the wonderful world of writing science books.
Speaker: Liesbeth Gijsel (Eos), author of F*ck de menopauze. Wat niemand je vertelt over de overgang (Lannoo, 2023) and Citizen Science. Hoe burgers de wetenschap uitdagen (Pelckmans Pro, 2019), and Katrien Van Oost, Publisher general non-fiction at Lannoo (Belgium) focused on popular science books
03.00 PM
Break
More time to talk to fellow participants.
03.45 PM
The future of scicomm in Belgium
The BE SciComm team will enter in a conversation with guests and the audience to think of how we can and should advance sicomm practice, research, and education locally and presents its plan for a list of policy recommendations.
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Speaker: Tycho Wassenaar, Strategic Advisor of NEWS (Nationaal Instituut voor Wetenschap and Samenleving) in the Netherlands
04.30 PM
Wrap-up + Drinks
To end the day, we head over to Brewdog for a drink
Meet the speakers
Wietse Chanet
Wietse Chanet is a Belgian scientist and science communicator specializing in stick insects (Phasmida). As Phasmedia (and WilderWickie), he breeds and showcases phasmids across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, and shares his work through exhibitions and media. He was nominated for the Bisou Award.
Liesbeth Gijsel
Liesbeth Gijsel is editor-in-chief of Eos Psyche&Brein and coordinator of Iedereen Wetenschapper, the citizen science platform of Eos. As a science journalist, she focuses on psychology, female health, and hormones. She is the author of Fck de menopauze* and Citizen Science, and the creator of several award-nominated podcasts, including Ongesteld (menstruation), De Conversaties (decolonisation), and Fruitige Verhalen (sustainable agriculture). Her broader interests include nature, climate, and the role of science in society.
Daniel Silva Luna
Daniel Silva Luna is a researcher specializing in science communication. He studies how communicators’ beliefs, values, and identities shape what and how they convey—and how this influences effectiveness and audience perception. His prior work focuses on emotion in sci-comm: which emotions are used, why, and the strategies for weaving them into stories.
Bradley van Paridon
Bradley van Paridon is a freelance science journalist, communicator, and podcast producer with a PhD in biology. His work has appeared in Scientific American, Hakai Magazine, Undark, C&EN Magazine, and Chemistry World, among others. Brad is a board member of BE SciComm, and also the host of Two Brad for You, a podcast exploring the weirder corners of science and society through conversations with scientists, journalists, and curious thinkers.
Tycho Wassenaar
Tycho Wassenaar is a strategic advisor at the Dutch National Expertise Centre for Science and Society (NEWS), where he works to strengthen the relationship between science and society through more effective science communication. With a background in public policy, higher education, and public affairs, Tycho has led a range of national initiatives, from campaigns supporting academic research to improving the safety and visibility of universities. He previously served as a strategic advisor at Universities of the Netherlands and as a policy officer at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
Michele Fontana
Michele Fontana is a creative strategist and science communicator specialized in transforming scientific ideas into engaging and accessible experiences through artistic production, multimedia design, public engagement events, and education programs. With a multidisciplinary background in theater, museum studies, science communication, and environmental science, he creates ways to connect people with research, health, and innovation in meaningful and memorable ways. Together with Sarah Verstraeten, Michele founded Koi.
Martijn Peters
Martijn Peters is the resident science explainer for VTM Nieuws and Het Laatste Nieuws, and an award-winning creator on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. He tackles everyday and unexpected questions, unpacking science in clear, engaging stories. He’s the author of two books, turning curiosity into accessible, trustworthy science communication.
Jasper Van Assche
Jasper Van Assche (ULB) is a social psychologist studying intergroup relations, ideological climates, and individual differences. His work on prejudice, political attitudes, and basic psychological needs offers practical insights for science communication about diversity and polarization.
Sara Verstraeten
Sara runs Koi together with Michele Fontana. They specialize in live events that allow direct connections with audiences. Using various formats tailored to different communication preferences, they create exciting, interactive, and memorable experiences. Through immersive storytelling, gamification, and interactive challenges, they captivate and inspire curiosity, fostering a deeper understanding of your science.
