Rebecca's homepage

Who I am I am a 28 year old PhD student in science communication and science education based at  the Institute for Basic Medical Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo I’m half Norwegian and half English, having lived 20 years in England and 8 in Norway. contact rebecca.carver@medisin.uio.no Academic interests * Science journalism * Science education (project "Genes in the media" at Ullern high school. See FILM adapted for english). * Health communication * Public understanding of genetics * Making science accessible for youngsters Degrees Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences (Biology, Anthropology & Philosophy), Durham University, UK 2000-2003 Master of Science in Science Communication, Imperial College London, UK 2003-2004 Some publications Oslo scientists have found the media gene. Feature in the University Science Magazine Apollon 4/2008 Carver, R., Waldahl, R. & Breivik, J. (2008) Frame that gene: A tool for analyzing and classifying the communication of genetics to the public. EMBO reports vol 9, no.10, 2008 Carver (2008) Levende kommunikasjon. Journalen 3 (a review of Magne Nylenna’s book Publisere & Presentere for the Oslo Medical Association) Widening access An investigative feature about the pros and cons of open access publishing, Guardian Unlimited 2004. Big future for nanotechnology A news feature discussing the status of nanotechnology research in Britain, Guardian Unlimited 2004.

Above: Explaining the chemistry of nappies at the Oslo Summer School 2008

Other interests Opera, piano, singing, classical guitar, exploring nature, hiking, skiing, evolutionary anthropology, popular science books, fine teas, old architecture.  I also work for Forskerfabrikken and SciLab - initiatives that make science fun for kids! Other responsibilities ("verv"): In the spring of 2008 I started up the IMB PhD Forum for all the doctoral students at Institute for Basic Medical Research, together with Cecilie Morland (joint leader). I helped organize two symposias on the theme of COMMUNICATING SCIENCE and YOUR PhD AND THE ROAD AHEAD Summer 2008 I left the IMB PhD Forum in the hands of a great bunch of people and joined  UiODoc; a forum for temporary employees at the University of Oslo, and have been  assistent leader (nestleder) since April 2009. See our blog. I’m also a member of Medicins Sans Frontiers (Doctors without Borders/ Leger uten Grenser) since 2004 Rainforest Foundation Norway (Regnskogsfondet) since 2005 Mountaineering Society, University of Oslo, autumn 2008 Windsurfing Society, University of Oslo, since summer 2009

Presentations

How do scientists, journalists and the public talk about genetics? Conference talk, Man and her Genes, Oslo November 2008.

"Science communication research in practice" Presentation of recent article to the science education community at the Natural Sciences Education Centre (Naturfagsenteret), UiO, Oct 2008

"Gene communication for health specialists" Lecture given to Master students in health sciences at Høgskolen i Akershus, May 2007 & May 2008
"Framing the Gene" - Presentation of project at the Rdid (RealfagDidaktikk) Phd school in science education, Fredrikstad, November 2007
"Framing the Gene" - Presentation of project at Gøteborg Centre for Public Learning and Understanding of Science (GC+ Centre), Gøteborg-Chalmers University November 2007

"Gene discourse" Imperial College London; Science and the Public Postgraduate conference May 2007

Photo: mountain cross-country skiing from Hallingskeid to Kaldevasshytta, with Fjellgruppa March 2009

Teaching

I have a 2-3 hour module "Genes in the media" for PhD students on the Introductory Course at the Medical Faculty (compulsory), 3-4 times each semester.