About the Institute: The purpose of the Academy is to generally promote science through a range of activities. It functions in four areas: recognition of outstanding contributions to science (awards, AAS

Sharon in front of a poster she designed to celebrate the Nobel Prize won by two Australians, Professor Barry Marshall and Robin Warren

 Fellowships), education and public awareness of science (which is my area), science policy (producing reports on issues such as stem cell research or human cloning) and international relations (promoting scientific exchange programs, representing Australia in the International Council for Science).

Background... I have PhD in Plant Molecular Biology, and a (nearly completed) Masters in Science Communication.

Career history... I did my PhD at CSIRO Plant Industry, followed by a postdoctoral position in the Institute of Biotechnology at Cambridge University, UK. I returned to Plant Industry and worked there for about 6 years as a postdoctoral or research scientist. I was interested in how plants make tannin and anthocyanins – the antioxidant compounds in tea and red wine – and their use in the prevention of bloat in cattle. I realized that many scientists had no idea how to talk about their research to anybody other than scientists, so I started a part time Masters in Science Communication when still doing research. When the funding for my research dried up, I left CSIRO to continue the course work for my Masters and then travelled overseas for a while. When I returned, I saw the advertisement for the Nova Project Officer and was encouraged to apply by the person who was leaving the job. I was offered the position within a few hours and started a few weeks later.

stereotyping? No: AAS were looking for someone with a science background, but the communication experience was necessary too. Most of the people in the Secretariat are not scientists. They are accountants, administrators, teachers, graphic designers, editors and communicators.

Best/worst job aspects? Best: keeping up with all areas of science research in popular science magazines. This is a very broad scope rather than very narrow scope as in traditional research. Learning new things all the time. Worst: not being able to focus on one topic for any length of time. Having to juggle quite a few things all at once. Constantly having to find funding.

Staying in touch with science... I do a lot of reading of science magazines and surfing the web for new topics to post in the Nova website — not to mention the efforts to keeping existing topics (89!) updated.

Gender balance at work... Although the Academy Fellowship is mostly male, the Secretariat is all female, apart from the groundsman. This is very different from a research environment where senior researchers were mostly male and technical staff were mostly female.

Advice for beginners... Go for it. There are plenty of opportunities in science communication at the moment. Australian science communicators have a good reputation overseas, too.

How do you relax? I go to the gym a fair bit: I can’t not go anymore. I’ve recently bought a new house and there is quite a lot of gardening/landscaping to do. I also have to put some time aside for study; that is not relaxing but it should only be until the end of the year.