MEET THE SCICOMM PROS
As part of our Master’s program, we offer a dynamic “Meet the Scicomm Pros” series that is refreshed every year to reflect the latest advancements in communication and the evolving job market. We bring in professionals from a variety of communication fields (science, medicine, innovation) to share their insights.
2025-2026
Using Gen-AI to communicate science responsibly and effectively
In today’s world, using AI is no longer optional. The Using GenAI to Communicate Science workshop offers science communicators and researchers a deep dive into Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Co-Pilot, unlocking their potential for science communication.
Beyond a basic introduction, this workshop ensures participants master ChatGPT, guiding it to produce precise, accurate, and engaging scientific content. It covers prompt engineering, content validation, AI biases, and ethical considerations.
Designed for science communicators and researchers, the workshop balances theory with hands-on exercises, equipping participants with practical skills to enhance their science communication through GenAI immediately.
Mohamed Elsonbaty is the founder of SciComm-AI, an initiative helping science communication and journalism integrate AI responsibly through training and consulting. With 15 years of experience, he has trained hundreds of science communicators, journalists, and researchers in effective science communication. He has worked with international organizations to develop and deliver global science engagement projects.
As a science journalist, he has published over 700 articles in outlets like Scientific American, SciDev.Net, Nature, and Popular Science.
He holds a Master’s in Science Communication from the University of Edinburgh (Chevening Scholar) and a Bachelor’s in Pharmacy from Alexandria University.
He is the former Vice-President of the PCST network, co-founder of the Arab Forum of Science Media and Communication, and former Interim President of the Arab Science Journalists Association.
Communicating Health Projects: Tools, Strategies, and Real-World Practice
This course offers an in-depth exploration of the vital role communication plays in project development, with a special emphasis on the medical and scientific fields.
Using a hands-on, practical approach, it guides participants through essential aspects such as planning communication activities, estimating the time and resources required, selecting the right tools and channels for specific audiences, and assessing campaign outcomes.
Participants will also gain insights into the everyday challenges faced by science journalists and communicators, including how to navigate common concerns around using social media.
The course ultimately aims to equip professionals with the skills and confidence needed to design integrated, effective, and sustainable communication strategies.
Cristina Da Rold
DataJournalist – Infodata (Il Sole 24 Ore), WHO Communication consultant
Cristina has worked as a data journalist since 2012, specializing in healthcare with a data-driven approach. Her reporting appears primarily in Infodata – Il Sole 24 Ore, Le Scienze, and for AIRC, focusing on topics such as epidemiology, cancer research, and emerging medical technologies.
Alongside her journalistic work, she works as a consultant and trainer in digital health communication. Since 2015, she has worked as a communication and social media consultant for the Italian Office of the World Health Organization, and since 2021, she has also collaborated with the Pezcoller Foundation for Cancer Research in Trento.
In 2015, she published Sotto controllo. La salute ai tempi dell’e-health, with Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore.
Website
Crafting Science for Schools: Textbooks and Educational Publishing
From childhood, many people encounter science primarily through school textbooks, making educational publishing a key area for science communication.
This seminar offers an introduction to the Italian scientific educational publishing sector, exploring its market, main stakeholders, and the process behind creating textbooks in both print and digital formats. Students will learn how science communicators can contribute to developing clear, engaging, and accurate educational materials.
The seminar covers editorial work—from content planning to pre-printing—alongside the creation of multimedia resources like videos and podcasts, showing how science communication principles enhance the quality and impact of school science education.
Sara Urbani
Senior science editor, writer and podcaster
Sara Urbani has built a distinguished career in scientific publishing, driven by a strong passion for science communication and education. With over twenty years of experience, she has worked on creating science textbooks for secondary schools and universities, both in print and digital formats. After working with Zanichelli, she now collaborates as a freelance editor with major educational publishers like Mondadori, Rizzoli, and Loescher. In addition to textbooks, she writes about science and society for online magazines and works with the communication agency formicablu. She also creates podcasts and tourist guides. Sara holds a Master’s in Science Communication from SISSA and a degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Trieste.
We are grateful to the many professionals who took part in the Meet the SciComm program and enriched it with their experience, insights, and enthusiasm. Their contributions added real value to our journey, offering participants diverse perspectives on science communication in action.
A heartfelt thank you to each of them for sharing their time and expertise with our community.
Below is the list of the experts, communicators, and journalists who made this possible.
Martin W. Angler, Attila Bruni, Gabriele Beccaria, Lucia Busatta, Elena Canadelli, Giovanni Carrada, Marco Castellazzi, Trevor Cox, Francesca Fiore, Luciano Floridi, Felice Frankel, Stefano Gattei, Angelo Ghidotti, Claudio Giunta, Federico Guerrini, Tia Kansara, Marina Lalovic, Michele Lanzinger, Silvia Lazzaris, Annika Moberg, Fredrick Moberg, Monica Murano, Giuseppe Pellegrini, Lorenzo Pinna, Annalisa Porrelli, Antonio Pratesi, Jacopo Sacquegno, Massimiliano Saltori, Patrizia Soffiati, Elisabetta Tola, Marta Tomasi, Brian Trench, Ilaria Vacca, Roberta Villa.