The Mary Ann Mansigh Conversation series focuses of non-strictly technical topics of cultural interest for the simulation and modelling community. The format reflects the informative and informal nature of these sessions, with talks introducing the subject followed by a conversation between the speakers and the audience. The CECAM-MARVEL Mary Ann Mansigh Conversation series is named after Mary Ann Mansigh celebrating her pioneering legacy in the field of computational sciences.
This series is jointly organised by CECAM and MARVEL.
Join us on November 20th, between 15:00 and 17:30, in room BCH2103 or online (Zoom webinar), for the next instalment in the series, titled "Telling scientific stories — from science journalism to comics and visual storytelling". Following the talks and the discussions, an aperitif will be served in BCH3113 for all in-person participants.
Scientists are trained to communicate work through journal articles, seminars, and conferences. But reaching audiences beyond the lab requires different tools and languages — whether through news media, books, or creative formats like comics. In a discussion with SWI swissinfo.ch science and technology journalist Sara Ibrahim and director of the Istituto per le Applicazioni del Calcolo at the National Research Council of Italy Roberto Natalini, we will explore how researchers can broaden the impact of their work by engaging with diverse forms of science communication. Each of the two speakers will bring a unique perspectives: an experienced science journalist from a major Swiss news outlet, who translates complex research into stories that capture the public’s attention and constantly looks into the societal and ethical implications of new technologies; and an editor at a publishing house specializing in science-themed comics, who uses visual storytelling to make scientific ideas accessible and memorable. Together, they will share insights on how science can travel across different platforms, the challenges of simplifying without oversimplifying, and why clear communication is crucial for building trust between science and society.
About the speakers
Sara Ibrahim is a multilingual science and technology journalist born in Milan to an Italian-Egyptian family. She joined SWI swissinfo.ch in 2020, where she makes complex research and innovation topics understandable to an international audience. Previously, she worked between Milan and Paris as an editor for tech magazines. Her areas of interest include artificial intelligence, the social impact of emerging technologies, democracy, human rights, and policy issues related to innovation. Committed to making science accessible, she uses her reporting to bridge the gap between experts and the public, highlighting how new discoveries shape everyday life. She mainly writes in English and Italian and is based in Switzerland.
Roberto Natalini is the Director of the Istituto per le Applicazioni del Calcolo at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), with a research focus on partial differential equations and their applications in biology, fluid dynamics, and cultural heritage. He is deeply engaged in mathematics education and outreach, coordinating the national platform MaddMaths! and co-leading the science communication project Comics&Science. From 2015 to 2022, he chaired the Mathematics Outreach Committee of the European Mathematical Society, promoting innovative approaches to public engagement with mathematics.
The Conversation will be moderated by Nicola Nosengo (science writer, NCCR MARVEL) and Dr Sara Bonella (Deputy Director, CECAM, and MARVEL PI).
