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.

3 tips to improve your networking skills—advice from an international student

Many people tell me that they’re unable to network due to their lack of charisma and social skills, but networking is not only about that. Charisma and social skills help - mostly in terms of overcoming social awkwardness in social situations, but fortunately, networking is not purely based on your charisma. First and foremost, networking is a skill and you can learn

How-to & Useful stuff

Toolbox from Karolinska Institutet inspires bioentrepreneurs to create and collaborate

You don’t have to be a genius to spark ideas, turn concepts on their heads or inspire groups to work in the same direction – you just need tools! A collection of such tools was newly published in English by the Unit for Bioentrepreneurship,…

Interviews

How to use a mailing list to present science stories—and give your readers “Piece of Mind”

Julia Turan, neurobiologist with a passion for science communication, has chosen a special format to present worthwhile science stories: a mailing list.

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