Symposium session: Sleep science communication: research messages and accuracy in the media
Tracks
Track 1
| Saturday, October 19, 2024 |
| 1:45 PM - 3:15 PM |
| Arena 1B |
Details
Join us for a unique and stimulating session in which a science communication expert leads a session to help improve how we get our research messages accurately into the media. In this session health literacy as well as models of science communication will be promoted as ways of addressing gaps in the bench-to-bedside and clinical-to-community translational research continuum. The researchers in this final have been encouraged to produce a short video to explain the benefits and/or potential impacts of their research. Increasingly in this era of an explosion of sleep stories in the media (and particularly on social media), there is a great risk of misinformation. It is essential that researchers help to accelerate the translation of their science via digital creativity and don’t just leave it to unqualified TikTok influencers!
JUDGES: Olivia Henry, Alexandra Shriane and Alexander Sweetman
The judges will deliberate and then deliver feedback and announce the winner and runner up.
Speaker
Assoc Prof Moira Junge
CEO
Sleep Health Foundation
Chair: Welcome address, introductions and overview of the history and the spirit of the symposium
1:45 PM - 1:55 PMBiography
Moira is an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at Monash University, is a registered practicing Health Psychologist and is the CEO of the Sleep Health Foundation. She was a founding member of the Behavioural Management of Sleep Disorders Committee within the Australasian Sleep Association (ASA) in 2009 and was the Chair of the ASA Insomnia and Sleep Health Council (2008-2015). Moira is passionate about promoting the importance of good sleep health, providing the community with access to evidence-based solutions for sleeping difficulties, and about translating research into practical applications in the community.
Dr Jenny Haycock
Research Associate
Flinders University
Chair
Biography
Ms Olivia Henry
Media Officer
The Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC)
Special Guest Speaker: Keynote address about the important role science communication has in the media
1:55 PM - 2:15 PMBiography
Olivia is a media officer with the Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC), an independent, not-for-profit organisation that works to improve the reporting of science. She has a bachelor’s degrees in biomedical science and media (journalism), specialising in microbiology, immunology and anatomical sciences. Olivia’s studies took her to Japan and Spain, with scholarships for diplomatic relations and video journalism. Back home, Olivia interned at Australia’s Science Channel and presented science shows for kids with SciWorld. Before joining AusSMC, Olivia spent eight years with Fairfax Media and worked in a range of other media, including television, radio, film, social media, freelance writing and photography.
Ms Nicole Grivell
Implementation Scientist, Registered Nurse, PhD candidate
Flinders University
Finalist: General practice nurses take on insomnia: the war on sleeping tablets
Biography
Nicole Grivell is an Implementation Scientist, Sleep Research Registered Nurse, and final year PhD student. Nicole works and studies at Flinders University and works as an Implementation Scientist at University of Melbourne. Her research interests include the development of new primary care models of care for chronic insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea, the management of sleep disorders by primary care nurses, the sleep and breathing of people living with motor neurone disease, and consumer engagement in research. Nicole is passionate about facilitating the translation of research findings into practice to improve access to best practice care for the many Australians living with a sleep disorder and/or experiencing poor sleep.
Ms Laura Astbury
Clinical Psychology PhD Candidate
Monash University
Finalist: Mums the Word: Uncovering key links between sleep and mental health in new mums
Biography
Laura Astbury is a third-year Clinical Psychology PhD Candidate and Provisional Psychologist at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health at Monash University. She has been a member of the Bei Sleep and Mental Health Group at the Monash University since 2018 and she received a bachelor's degree in psychology (with honours) from Monash University in 2020. Laura's research focuses on maternal and infant sleep and maternal mental health across the pregnancy and postpartum periods. Laura is also a clinician who delivers cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia during the perinatal period.
Ms Samantha Bramich
Sleep Scientist & PhD Candidate
University of Tasmania
Finalist: Dreams could be key to finding brain diseases
Biography
Samantha Bramich has been a sleep scientist at the Launceston General Hospital for the past 12 years and completed a Master of Science in Sleep Medicine at the University of Sydney in 2019. She has a keen interest in the impact of sleep on health and disease and is currently a PhD candidate at the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre at the University of Tasmania. Her research is focused on isolated REM sleep behaviour disorder (iRBD) and neurodegenerative disease, looking at the prevalence and profiles of iRBD in older Tasmanian adults. Sam and her research team launched the ISLAND Sleep Study in 2022 which now has over 2500 participants, and investigates both subjective and objective symptoms of neurodegeneration, along with using a novel home-based video polysomnography system to identify iRBD more easily in the community.
Miss Dayna Easton
Phd Candidate
CQ University
Finalist: Physical activity and managing fatigue in shift workers
Biography
Dayna is a PhD candidate at the Appleton Institute at CQUniversity. Her research focuses on exploring individual differences in shift work adaptation, and fatigue management strategies to improve cognitive performance during overnight shifts. Dayna's work carries significant practical implications for optimising night shift rostering and performance.
Ms Olivia Henry
Media Officer
The Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC)
Judge
Biography
Mrs Alexandra Shriane
Phd Candidate
Appleton Institute / CQ University
Judge
Biography
Dr Alexander Sweetman
Senior Program Manager
Australasian Sleep Association
Judge
Biography
