Giving Voice to the Community: The Faculty of Science Communication Cell
Every day, in laboratories, offices, classrooms or out in the field, the Faculty of Science comes to life through the work of hundreds of people. Researchers, teachers, students, technicians, and administrative staff: each person contributes to building a vibrant, diverse, and interconnected ecosystem. A faculty which, as Dean Costanza Bonadonna likes to say, is “organic” - where no role is minor and every voice has its place.
But how can we tell the story of this life, this diffuse energy, this plurality of paths and perspectives? How can we share information, highlight everyday work, and foster a sense of belonging and exchange between sections often rooted in different disciplinary worlds?
It was in response to these questions that the Faculty of Science Communication Cell was launched in 2024. Initiated by the Dean’s Office, the project aims to make communication more participatory, more cross-cutting, and more reflective of the true fabric of our community.
A Network of PhD Students Bringing Science to Life from the Bottom Up
The Communication Cell is made up of PhD students from the Faculty's eight sections and independent departments, selected through an open call. Participation is voluntary. Members receive training in both scientific and institutional communication to better understand the issues, codes, and channels specific to a public university. Working closely with the Dean’s team, their role is not exclusively to promote the Faculty, but to give visibility to the activities, people, and stories that shape its daily life. It’s an approach rooted in recognition, sharing, and connection - serving a diverse and engaged community.
Among the activities carried out are:
- Instagram takeovers, offering a direct and informal glimpse into life in labs, classrooms, field missions, or international conferences
- Showcasing events organized by sections or Faculty services
- Building a shared narrative around academic work beyond disciplinary silos
One standout example was the recent teaching mission to Iceland by the Earth Sciences Section, documented through an Instagram takeover on the Faculty's channels. Coordinated by the Communication Cell, the initiative allowed people to follow the project remotely, with students actively participating in the field. It was an authentic, educational, and accessible communication experience - one that showed how telling the story of science also means building community.
Communication as a Driver of Inclusion and Collective Responsibility
The creation of the Communication Cell is not merely a technical initiative. It reflects a broader vision championed by the Bonadonna Dean’s Office, which places social responsibility in science, inclusion, transparency, and talent recognition at the heart of its mission. In a time marked by geopolitical shifts, social tensions, and technological change, communication is no longer a luxury - it is an essential tool for cohesion, recognition, and openness.
In this light, the Cell is also a valuable training ground for young scientists: a space to learn how to communicate their research, engage with diverse audiences, and contribute actively to the institution’s collective life. Joining the Cell means developing skills that are increasingly valued in academia and beyond - such as synthesis, initiative, and storytelling.
A New Call for Participation
In the coming months, a new recruitment campaign will be launched to renew and expand the Communication Cell team. The call is aimed at motivated PhD students who are eager to tell the story of research, education, and university life from the inside. No prior communication experience is required - just a willingness to get involved, collaborate, and learn. Because, as the first few months of activity have shown, good communication isn’t about simplification, but about inclusion. It’s not about promotion, but about sharing.
The science we aim to share is not just about results: it’s made up of people, journeys, insights, failures, and relationships. It’s a living, evolving, reflective science - and it needs authentic voices to be heard.
SHARE THIS STORY: