team

The Sounds of Science team has skills in radio broadcasting, live presenting, audio editing, research, journalism, training, marketing, project management, stage management and evaluation. We are all scientists by background and met whilst studying for master’s degrees in science communication at the University of the West of England.

Jim Bell, Director

Jim is our direct science communication specialist. An experienced live presenter, he has spent more than five years working in science centres, including at-Bristol and the National Space Centre, at festivals, such as Green Man Festival and Cheltenham Science Festival, and with a troupe of travelling planetarium presenters. He has delivered local community science education projects and developed a hands-on bug show with Explorerdome  (check out his bug blog here). Jim is currently involved in training researchers ahead of their performances at Bright Club Bristol and is one half of the podcast hosting duo for the Geek Pop Podcast. He has also hosted geeky music shows and sessions for live radio.

Something Jim once said: “I don’t believe sliding doors are real. I think there’s a person either side.”

Hayley Birch, Director

Hayley is a freelance science writer, editor and general science communication nerd. Well known for having her fingers in many pies, she has written for and edited books, magazines and websites and is the manager of the Solar Stage in Einstein’s Garden at Green Man Festival. As a committee member of the British Science Association Bristol & Bath branch, she is heavily involved in local science communication projects. Hayley also has a strong academic interest in using new media for science communication, and has published on the subject in New Media Opportunities, as well as in a new Cambridge University Press science communication text. She is the other half of the podcast hosting duo for Geek Pop. Check out her personal website here.

Something Hayley once said: “I’ll stop getting crazy when Jim stops bringing tortoises into the podcast studio.”

Vicky West, Director

Vicky is the Sounds of Science team’s audio whizz. With a background as a professional radio presenter on Bristol’s Original 106.5 and Devon’s Palm 105.5, she’s more than capable on the mic, as well as in the edit. Although Vicky’s first love is audio – she makes podcasts as well as radio shows – she’s also had plenty of experience with video, producing wildlife footage for the web. Part of the prize-winning team that snatched a merit award in the 2009 Biz Idea competition, Vicky has a head for business, not to mention some considerable experience in public relations and marketing. Recently a mum, she’s keen to drum it into the little ones early and when she’s not engaging the public with science, she’s busy entertaining her one-year-old with it.

Something Vicky once said: “I’ve got some caffeine tights.”

Julianna Photopoulos, Affiliate

Julianna is a science communication junkie, with considerable experience working in multimedia and film web-based projects. Known to laugh loudly, eat cake and snap her camera, she also writes for various science publications and is producing science radio programmes for the National Mexican Radio IMER. In her spare time, she likes getting involved in direct science communication projects and helps out with events organised by At-Bristol, the Bristol Natural History Consortium and the British Science Association Bristol & Bath branch. Julianna currently runs the nationwide science film competition SciCast for StoryCog and has recently been involved in various video productions for the Institute of Physics, National STEM Centre, Royal Institution and European Parliament.

Something Julianna once said: “Cake is like the glue that joins all our conversations together.”