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.

A short guide to movie making

It's 2016 and visualising your idea through film is easier than ever. Unfortunately, with so many distractions engaging your audience is a lot harder than it was just a few years ago, and making them lend you 10 minutes of their time seems almost…

Music video about Amblypygids won Evolution Film Festival

”I’ve got eight legs and my name is super cool!” Matt Wilkins, postdoctoral fellow, and Tyler Corey, Ph.D. researcher – both from University of Nebraska – won a film festival prize for their music video about a spectacular order of…

Dance your PhD – 2016 edition open for registration

"Dance your PhD" contest is open for submissions until 30th of September 2016. In this annual dance competition, you need to explain your PhD research in a form of interpretive dance. Nuclear fusion, water protection policies, sperm competition…

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.

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

Crastina Content

Guest Bloggers

Guest posts

Guest posts from good friends in the Crastina network. Please make sure to check out their activities.