Out of this world: Professor Fred Jourdan’s outreach passion

Professor Fred Jourdan at a science communication expo at Curtin University in October 2021 during the launch of the Binar-1 satellite. There, Curtin University researchers and students showcased lunar and martian rocks to expo visitors including the Premier of Western Australia, Mark McGowan. Image: supplied

Professor Fred Jourdan is fascinated by asteroids — when they formed, what elements makes them up, and how their potted surfaces tell of collisions in space over time. Fred is passionate about sharing his research with his students at Curtin University, and far beyond with all Australians — the ultimate funders of much of his work. All this while managing the NCRIS enabled Western Australia Argon Isotope Facility at Curtin University! Discover Fred’s path from the laboratory to YouTube.

Hi Fred, can you tell us a bit about your journey to science communication?

Hi Philomena! I‘ve always been a big fan of science communication and outreach.

“Outreach is what got me into science in the first place — I read a popular science book on black holes.”

I am now a senior scientist, love my job, and definitely want to give back and transmit a little of my passion to the public. However, I am challenged to find time in my schedule to do this — it’s not often enough that I have the chance to work with the media to communicate significant new research with the world.

So I found another way to share more of my work with the world: via short YouTube videos. I produce, present and edit the videos myself, and then I share them on social media. Since I regularly publish scientific papers on a large variety of geoscience topics, this simple communication method allows me to share something new that comes directly from my research and the laboratory I manage.

Fred shares his new research with the world in many different ways: sometimes face-to-face in a classroom, and on other occasions via media releases, radio and YouTube. Pictured: a meteorite sample derived from the asteroid Vesta that Fred analysed (left; read the story) and Fred with Jorja Keay from radio station RTRFM 92.1 (right; listen to the interview here). Images: supplied / RTRFM 92.1. Below: Fred’s favourite way to share all of his newly published research publicly: via YouTube. Images: YouTube

What new challenges and opportunities face you and your science communication?

The way we researchers publish things has been under scrutiny lately, which makes sense. We do all the time-consuming challenging research and then publish ultra-polished papers. Publishing companies harvest all the monetary benefits from our papers for free (we receive no payment and hand over our copyright) and then provide access to the world — only the public beyond a hefty paywall.

I understand that publishers have many costs to bare including administration, editing and platform maintenance, however, something feels a little odd to me because the research we do is largely taxpayer-funded and as such, the Australian public should have free access to their investment. At the very least, I feel that publishing companies should distribute free popular science magazines to the public.

“But you know what? Researchers do not need to wait for that as they can communicate science to the public by themselves and relatively easily.”

WATCH: In The Study segment of ABC’s The Weekly With Charlie Pickering (timestamp starting at 22:35), host Charlie discusses the Australian general public’s challenge to access publicly funded research. Image: ABC

In 1952, American psychologist, researcher and writer Anne Roe stated “Nothing in science has any value to society if it is not communicated… Scientists are beginning to learn their social obligations.” Was Anne onto something?

Nice one! Well, 70 years later, it feels to me that scientists are still beginning to learn that.

“I think still too little is done in this area by scientists. In fact, in my opinion, science communication and outreach should be part of every job description in the same way that it is expected that we publish papers and/or teach.”

I feel this is particularly important for blue sky science (also known as blue skies research), which is scientific research in domains where "real-world" applications are not immediately apparent.

When we do blue sky science as I do, we produce new fundamental knowledge and the least we can do is to share it with everyone else, from inspiring kids at school to informing adults about the wonder of the universe. Scientific documentaries are a must in this area, but considering that people spend most of their online time on their phones, I say scientists should consider social media as an indispensable platform to disseminate science.

What science communication training do you see as vital and why?

I think that researchers, with the right push, are naturally good about communicating the results of their research, but perhaps less so at telling the public why geosciences matter so much to society.

“From my outreach experience, it’s interesting to see that part of the public see geologists as the problem of all the environmental issues we are facing, whereas in reality, the new generations of geosciences will largely contribute to fixing the environmental mess that every single human has created.”

We need to get better at explaining that kind of thing to the public. 

We loved your survey on why students study geology. What does this tell us about the future of geoscience?

Thanks! Geosciences is really a large field. It’s not only about rocks anymore, it’s about our planet and the new generations of students really get that. Lots of them want to get into geology to help the environment as well. One interesting finding of this survey is that most if not all the students who responded were exposed to geology in their childhood or teenage years, either at school or through other media, and they liked it! Hence they decided to pursue a career in this field. We definitely need more geology in school, either as outreach or even part of the teaching curriculum.

WATCH: Fred discusses his survey findings on why students study geology at university. Image: supplied

What is a curious fact about the natural world that brings you joy? 

“Even the most boring looking piece of rock has such a fascinating story to tell for those who know how to read it!”

In closing, what tips and encouragement can you offer researchers teetering on the edge of a new science communication project?

The hardest part is by far the beginning, learning the tricks of what to do, what not to do and how to do it. There are plenty of resources available on the internet that should help. AuScope’s science communicators can also offer tips and often support for researchers — please feel free to reach out to them!

However, once the ball is rolling and you have learned how to do things, then things become much easier, and projects can happen at a very rapid pace, so if you are still on the fence, just go for it, you’ll create your own fun I guarantee it!

 
 
 
AuScopeCommunity, SciComm, outreach