• University Medallist said it’s reassuring professional communicators now have a seat at the table with scientists working together on the world’s many complex issues

A Charles Sturt University communication graduate awarded a University Medal said it’s an exciting time to be a communicator, with new technologies allowing exploration of different ways to communicate science to the public.

Ms Ainsley Burgess (pictured above with her parents) from Sydney, graduated in the Charles Sturt School of Information and Communication Studies and was awarded the University Medal at the 10am graduation ceremony in Bathurst on Wednesday 7 December.

The University Medal is the highest honour that a student can receive. To be awarded a University Medal, a student has to achieve High Distinctions (HDs) in nearly all their subjects and if a student receives all HDs, they will receive a possible Grade Point Average (GPA) of seven.

Ms Burgess is the third generation of her family to have attended university. She currently works with The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre as a science communicator where she is responsible for developing an innovative communications strategy to boost knowledge translation in chronic disease prevention research.

“I lead the Knowledge Translation and Engagement team and we focus on producing communications about the Prevention Centre, its work and people, as well as about key issues in the prevention of chronic disease,” Ms Burgess said.

“Both my parents are teachers; one is a professor of agriculture and the other a speech teacher, so it is no surprise I ended up working in a combination of these two fields.”

Ms Burgess said she chose to study a Master of Communication because of the dramatic changes in the field of communication over the last 20 years, with digital technologies transforming the field.

“I was interested in learning about how the strategies and principles of communication have changed and finding new approaches for communicating across different platforms and channels,” she said.

“My special area of interest is science communication, and I was fortunate enough to have Dr Travis Holland (pictured left with Ainsley) as my supervisor. He encouraged me to push the boundaries for my dissertation and explore podcasting as a framework for communicating public health information.

“This is a fairly new and niche field of research, which made it both challenging and exciting, and I am grateful for his thoughtful approach where no idea, no matter how unusual, was considered implausible.”

Ms Burgess was working full-time and studying her master’s part-time, and when study became challenging, she didn’t have time to think about not being motivated.

“In a way, the study was the constant, while the world around was changing so rapidly - the structure of the assessments and tutorials provided a goal,” she said.

Ms Burgess said prevention is a ‘long game’, and the impact of what she and her colleagues do now may not transpire for many years.

“Although we are currently faced with some very wicked problems, such as the impact of climate change on health, the obesity epidemic, and vaping to name a few, I am optimistic,” she said.

“There appears to have been a shift in the last few years with increased understanding in the community for the value of public health.

“It is an exciting time to be a communicator, with new technologies, such as virtual reality and podcasting, allowing us to explore different ways to communicate science to those outside the scientific arena.

“It is also reassuring that professional communicators are recognised for their expertise and now have a seat at the table with scientists working together on the world’s many complex issues.”