Researchers in the making:
Summer stories
Last summer, Lesley Baldwin and Joshua Bezanson took a break from hectic university schedules to become reporters at CBC Radio.
Story by Laura Ly/Photos by Dustin Delfs and Trudie Lee
We live in a world of instant information. Technology now makes information accessible to anyone at any time and in any place. But despite this 24/7 availability, messages important to people's health and well-being sometimes lack impact. This past summer, thanks to AHFMR's Media Fellowship Program, two students got the opportunity to draw upon their own scientific backgrounds to bring stories about science and medical research to the airwaves of Alberta.
Joshua Bezanson, a University of Calgary student who is preparing for medical school, and Lesley Baldwin, a Ph.D. student in medical physics at the University of Alberta, were the recipients of the 2008 AHFMR Media Fellowships. Bezanson was posted at CBC Radio in Calgary, and Baldwin at CBC Radio in Edmonton.
AHFMR's Media Fellowship Program, which started in 1991, provides university students a unique opportunity to spend a summer working at media outlets in Alberta. The 12-week posting is intended to enhance the coverage of issues related to science and technology, while enabling young scientists to find out how events and ideas become news.
Baldwin and Bezanson applied to the program because they saw room for improvement in the quality and effectiveness of media stories about science and medical research. "A lot of science impacts us; and it's always in the public's best interest to have some idea of what's going on in the world of science," says Baldwin.
But science can get bogged down with technical terminology and statistics, and these aspects make research less comprehensible to the public. Bezanson notes, "The media play an important role in reporting research. The challenge that comes with that—and the responsibility—is to remain accurate and yet bring it to a level that ordinary people can understand and appreciate."
Both students met this challenge by producing radio series related to their own interests. Bezanson's weekly series, titled Prairie Care, profiled Alberta healthcare workers such as physicians, hospice workers, nurse practitioners, naturopathic doctors, and technicians in the field of nuclear medicine. Prairie Care was intended to put a human face on the healthcare system. "The real stories were hidden in the fascinating day-to-day work of people providing healthcare or conducting research," explains Bezanson. The last three installments aired nationally and received positive feedback.
Baldwin's Cancer Research in Alberta series profiled scientists involved in cutting-edge cancer research. The topic is close to her heart, as she herself conducts research at the Cross Cancer Institute with the support of an AHFMR Studentship. She looks for ways to correct geometric imperfections in magnetic resonance images so that these images can be used to plan more effective radiation treatments. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnets, radio waves, and a computer to produce detailed images of structures such as organs, soft tissue, and bone.
Baldwin also created a series called Inquiring Minds to celebrate the University of Alberta's centennial in 2008. She featured historical landmarks in research with U of A connections: the development of sonar technology, for example, and the role of Dr. James Collip in developing insulin for clinical use in 1921.
At the outset Baldwin was a researcher with little media experience; whereas Bezanson was a journalism graduate who had limited knowledge of medical research. Despite their different backgrounds, they emerged with a common understanding about the challenges involved in reporting science stories to the public.
Bezanson compares the skill of science-reporting to the art of storytelling: how well you tell the story determines the impact of that story on the audience. The two agree that the most valuable thing they learned last summer was how to tell a good story-a skill that will prove useful for Baldwin's career as a researcher and Bezanson's future as a physician. Bezanson says, "Being able to communicate well is a vital skill for physicians and researchers; and knowing how to use the media in compelling ways is a vital part of spreading information to the public. Research loses its relevancy if it does not get to the people who can use it to effect change."
The students also gained a balanced perspective about media and science. Bezanson developed a critical eye for research and an understanding of the research process. Baldwin gained an appreciation for science from an outsider's perspective: "It's nice to poke your head above water and just take a look at the huge diversity of really great work going on. It helps you see your own work from a new angle."
Interested in applying for a 2009 Media Fellowship? Visit http://www.ahfmr.ab.ca/communications/fellowship.php for more information.