Crastina is a platform for the exchange of experience, knowledge and inspiration regarding both scientific peer-to-peer communication and science dissemination

What? An international network of (mostly young) people who love to communicate science & tech.
Why? We think science needs to be communicated with more passion and professionalism.
Where? On our website with interviews & resources + on social media + on Skype and IRL.
Who? A content group (the Crew), a think tank (the Academy), + lots of friends & contacts.
When? Right now – as a matter of fact, we’ve just geared up.

Dr Tullio Rossi Animate your Science- a video interview

Dr Tullio Rossi and his team of 7 specialists in science, communication and graphic design thrive in transforming Scientific fact into beautiful design and videos. We reached Dr Rossi for our infographic theme: His company and how he created…

Interviews

Tor Martin Austad, Visual Lab: “Animation has no boundaries”

Having felt drawn to creative work, Tor Martin Austad combined his master degree (MSc) in biology with skills in animation to create Visual Lab. Operating out of Norway, Tor Martin works with universities, scientists, educational institutions…

Interviews

Katherine MacInnes: “Film is a great and accessible form of science communication!”

Swimming with whale sharks or travelling through space – the Bristol Science Film Festival (6-7 June) promises to deliver all of the excitement! This year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival has been moved to an online event with two…

Our current theme: “SciComm in Africa”

Pearl Osirike: “The beginning of a new era: science communication in Africa”

A Crastina Column by Pearl Osirike, Ph.D. student at West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana.

Read the Crastina Column

This time, we will learn more about SciComm activities emerging from a geographical area which is often overlooked in the general discussion about science and its communication: Africa.

On the one hand, it is true that African academia has to cope with persistent challenges like poor funding, inadequate infrastructure, staff shortages and recruitment problems. The everyday struggle of experimental scientists is hard to imagine for those who work in labs in Europe and North America. For example, the difficulty of transporting tissue samples and biomolecules sometimes add weeks and months to projects – parcels are lost, frozen samples become thawed and are ruined on the way, et cetera.

On the other hand, anyone who studies the websites of African universities and research institutes will be met by an impressing vitality and optimism. Innumerous projects are ongoing across this vast continent, and many of them include SciComm activities which all provide a lesson for anyone ready to read, ask and reflect.

We have rarely felt such anticipation when initiating a theme here at Crastina; we are confident that we all – authors and readers have much – to learn.

For The Crastina Crew

Olle Bergman, Project Leader