Big Bang

For this issue on different media used for science communication, Miguel Vissers dug deeper on a quote that has long survived the speaker: “The medium is the message.”

...you’ll get what you’ve always got. The famous saying with unknown origins, and attributed to a variety of people, came to mind as I started reflecting on this edition of Big Bang . The diversity of science communication approaches that are used to reach different publics has changed over the years. But has what science communicators do really changed, or are we still doing what we always did? Let’s have a closer look. Once upon a time in Belgium Some of the work of Geert V

On April 25, 1953, a short paper appeared in the journal Nature that changed the world.1 It was barely a page long and contained a single, simple diagram. But what stands out today isn’t just the discovery of the DNA double helix; it is the quiet, unassuming confidence of the opening sentence: “We wish to suggest a structure for the salt of deoxyribose nucleic acid (D.N.A).”

A conversation with two seasoned science communicators, Désiré De Poot & Sooike Stoops

When we talk about science communication, we are usually referring to text and audio, maybe some video, and the odd event. But there are many more ways to convey science to different publics. Here, we showcase those who have broken the mold to come up with innovative ways to communicate science.

How Ben Verhoeven started a new theater genre in Flanders

Naomi Koh Belic, PhD, is part of a growing wave of creators who are redefining what science communication can be. A self-described “biracial, bisexual, bimbo biologist,” she has built a practice that is bold and playful yet deeply data-driven and committed to representation. From drag shows that double as sex education to co‑created projects with Indigenous communities, Koh Belic’s work amplifies voices too often excluded from science and fights for communication that is part

Lucia Ballesteros spoke with Sam Illingworth, whose work sits at the intersection of science, poetry, and public engagement. In this interview, Illingworth reflects on his path through science and poetry and what this, at first unlikely, pairing can offer to science communication.

How science, storytelling, and bias converge every time we draw the world

From the moment humans could draw, we’ve turned to our own bodies for inspiration. Painted on cave walls or splayed open in Renaissance anatomical studies, the human body has always been a subject of awe, fear, reverence, and inquiry. What changes across time is how we look at it. Recent books by Ruben Verwaal and Babette Van Rafelghem continue this long lineage in surprising, creative formats, each reframing the body not only as a biological entity, but as a cultural canvas.

Stephen Fry’s Greek mythology series (Mythos, Heroes, Troy, and Odyssey) are a lively retelling of some of the oldest stories ever told in a tone that makes them feel both accessible and meaningful to a modern reader without flattening their depth.

In an age where science talk competes more and more with misinformation for public trust, the ethical compass guiding science communication has never been more critical. Insights from three influential books—Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell, Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari, and Influence by Robert Cialdini—can shed some light on how we communicate science, and more importantly, how we ought to or ought not to.

On Wednesday November 20th, 2024, Els left home early in the morning, as she always did. She got on her bike, ready for another busy but exciting day at Hasselt University. The preparations for Dag van de Wetenschap were in full swing. A yearly highlight on the calendar, she had poured herself into the preparations for weeks.

Did you notice how few female scientists were quoted as experts in the media during the pandemic? As we were analyzing our data for the Belgian Pandemic Intelligence Network, we found that, on average, only 20% of experts mentioned in news about the COVID-19 pandemic were women, when they represent 34% of researchers in Belgium according to the OECD.

When Elisabeth Stes stepped away from the lab, she did not walk away from science. A trained biotechnologist with a PhD, she carried her research mindset with her and built a new career in science communication, first at a public research institute, and now at a leading pharmaceutical company. 

How can we balance the exposure of misconduct with the preservation of public trust? It’s not a new question, but it’s one I’ve been reflecting on more intensely in recent months as a controversy erupted in a field I’ve followed for years: Alzheimer’s research. The spark was Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer’s, a book published earlier this year by investigative journalist Charles Piller.

Some believe the Earth is flat. Others claim climate change is not real. A retracted study linking vaccines to autism continues to influence anti-vaccine movements. During the COVID-19 pandemic, conspiracy theories and false cures spread rapidly. And in one famous case, fabricated results in stem cell research earned global praise before being exposed.

Tom Janssen started Creators for Climate to bridge the gap between scientific research and public understanding. He is doing so by creating engaging, factual content that inspires action. How does he navigate the ethical aspects of communicating about climate change/climate science?

Personal reflections on ethical scicomm Finding a job as a science communicator isn’t always easy, so landing one with a steady paycheck...

What happens when facts alone no longer convince? Philosopher Johan Braeckman has spent decades studying how beliefs are formed, how misinformation spreads, and how we might address it.