Introducing tomorrow’s global science communicators
Sanchita Vinayagam, winner of the 2024 Swinburne Start Talking Judges’ Choice award, presented on incorporating bioluminescent properties into plants to transform urban lighting.
In summary
Swinburne recently hosted its annual Start Talking competition, which aims to empower students to act as science communicators and hone their research and presentation skills.
The competition enhances skills that are integral to building students’ future careers and provides the opportunity to develop networks in the STEMM space.
Topics presented at the competition ranged from sustainable natural urban lighting to animal conservation for environmental and cultural impact.
The next generation of science communicators recently had their voices heard at the sixth annual Swinburne Start Talking competition.
The international competition invites students from Swinburne’s Australia and Malaysia campuses, as well as universities worldwide, to enhance their digital and communications skills. It provides students a valuable opportunity to expand networks by engaging with STEMM students from universities across the world.
Illuminating the future with nature
For the first time in the competition’s history, the Judges’ Choice and the People’s Choice categories were both awarded to the same recipient. Sanchita Vinayagam, a student from Universiti Putra Malaysia, wowed the judges and audience with her impressive presentation ‘Glow in the dark: Lighting the future with bioluminescent trees’.
Sanchita’s project explored the idea of using nature’s own mechanisms to solve some of our greatest environmental challenges. Specifically, the possibility of genetically engineering trees to glow in the dark by incorporating bioluminescent properties from organisms like jellyfish or fireflies.
Sanchita spoke to a vision for eco-friendly, cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing urban landscapes that could revolutionise urban lighting.
Sanchita says the competition challenged her to develop a creative way to explain complex biotechnology concepts.
“Participating in this competition allowed me to expand my skills in research communications and creative thinking,” says Sanchita.
Preserving life and heritage
In a gesture that speaks to Start Talking’s mission to cultivate global engagement and promote international networks, Sanchita offered her People’s Choice title to the runner-up team.
The People’s Choice title was awarded to the project ‘The Lights of the Malayan Tiger’ by Swinburne’s own Nursyahida Binti Abdul Rashid, Celine Amelia Anak Deans, Siti Karmila Binti Awg, and Siti Nurmaisarah Binti Azman.
“Our project focused on creating a sperm bank for the Malayan tiger to help preserve this endangered species. Our inspiration came from our desire to align with Sustainable Development Goal 15, which focuses on life on land,” says a spokesperson for the team, who study at Swinburne’s Sarawak campus in Malaysia.
“It’s significant because it ensures future generations will still have the opportunity to witness and appreciate our national animal, a vital part of Malaysia’s heritage and biodiversity.”
“The skills we’ve developed at Swinburne were instrumental in achieving this success. Our experiences taught us how to approach challenges with a practical mindset, communicate ideas clearly, and apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.”
Excelling in STEMM communication
As part of the competition, students attend extracurricular workshops that help them to develop public speaking and networking skills. They then present a four-minute pitch of their STEMM-related idea, with a focus on social impact, to a panel of judges spanning local government, industry and community.
Senior lecturer in microbial biotechnology and Work Integrated Learning (WIL) at Swinburne, and leader of the Shaping STEMM Futures program, Dr Bita Zaferanloo, says the Start Talking competition is instrumental in providing students with the skills they need to thrive in their careers.
"Effective communication and digital skills are crucial for building a successful career in STEMM, especially for students pursuing research or entrepreneurship. Our program bridges the gap between disciplinary knowledge and the demands of diverse career opportunities, providing students with a platform to develop and refine these skills while expanding their professional networks. This equips them with practical communication tools to thrive in a competitive landscape," says Bita.
“The quality of students’ presentations never fails to impress and shows their creative thinking and passion.
“Sanchita’s idea highlighted the real-world impact that can be achieved by abstract thinking and problem solving. Her presentation showed the power of effective science communication, and demonstrated how complex topics can successfully be relayed to a broad audience.
“The team project awarded People’s Choice is a testament to the importance of impactful research in areas of cultural and social significance.”
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