Winter Shorts 3: The Brownbeak Chronicles

SciComm x Bird Noir

Episode Fast Facts

Time: 17 minutes

“With science, we’re trying to communicate with people, change behaviour, inspire people to think about things differently… Being able to pivot and adapt to what your audience needs is a really important part.”

–Sarah Brown

Episode Host: Camila Pardo Uribe

Episode Guest: UWA Wildlife Conservation student, Sarah Brown

A selfie of a white woman smiling at the camera while holding a pair of black binoculars, wearing a jumper, backpack, and sunglasses on her collar, and with Australian bushland behind her.
Sarah Brown in her element birdwatching. Image: S Brown

Episode Credits

Episode Host: Camila Pardo Uribe

Special Guest: Sarah Brown

Producer: Camila Pardo Uribe

Audio editor: Camila Pardo Uribe

Show notes: Camila Pardo Uribe

Audiogram: Headliner.app

Foley: Sarah Brown

Music:

Jazz Background Music Loop by Migfus20 CC-BY-4.0https://freesound.org/s/559850/

Jazzy Vibes #81 – Jazz Piano Medley by Tri-Tachyon CC-BY-4.0https://freesound.org/s/541689/

POP HORNS FALL F#min7.wav by flakdemier CC.0 — https://freesound.org/s/450880/

Disclaimer:

The cover image for this episode was AI-generated using Gemini Image Generator 3.1 Pro | Thinking Level Standard on 13/06/2026.

Keywords:

Science communication, Interdisciplinarity, Wildlife conservation, Australian magpies, Birdsong, Storytelling in science, Noir trope, Creative science communication, Noongar bird names, Cozy mysteries, Student podcast spotlight, The SciComm Collective, UWA Minor in Science Communication

In this episode, Camila sits down with Minor of Science Communication student Sarah Brown to discuss the process behind her “Brownbeak Chronicles” podcast episode. They talk about their mutual love for birds (in classic ageing millennial fashion), music, true crime and Sarah’s journey in STEM and science communication. Sarah shares how her interest in different artistic expressions has informed her practice of sharing science with different audiences. Stemming from their personal experiences, they discuss how science communication is an interdisciplinary practice in which multiple worldviews are welcome.

 

“Before I started this degree, I had zero STEM background… So I had no idea what to do with science. So I felt like science communication, I could kind of bridge that gap a little bit where I didn’t feel like I was completely floundering.”

– Sarah Brown

Episode links:

See Walyalup’s 2024 AFLW Indigenous jumper here: https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/1682284/the-meaning-behind-walyalups-2024-aflw-indigenous-jumper

Gisela Kaplan’s insights on bird behaviour: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/gisela-kaplan-native-birds/11665574

Geraldine Hickey’s Death by Birding episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6OLlbrvguqSjuyPol0Jvzf?si=b250e6d905a940a1

Read more about inclusive science communication: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10755470251344471

Check out Sarah’s birding and drawing account on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bronsbirds/.

Find out more about the undergraduate science communication minor at UWA: https://www.handbooks.uwa.edu.au/minordetails?code=MNR-SCCOM#minor-overview.

Hand drawing of a songbird with annotations about the sighting
One of Sarah's beautiful observational drawings. Image: S Brown
The Collective on this episode:
Camila Pardo Uribe

Camila Pardo Uribe

Producer, Host, Editor, Shownotes

We love hearing everyone’s stories of how they got into science communication. What about you? What brought you here? Feel free to share in the comments!

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