About

About Dr. Claire Malone

My passion to understand the world around me has led me to complete a Ph.D. as part of the High Energy Physics group at the University of Cambridge. The root of my research interests was in understanding the behaviour of the fundamental particles that comprise our universe. My research focused on analysing data from the LHC at CERN, to complete our understanding of the universe in terms of its basic building blocks. 

Throughout my higher education, I observed firsthand how enriching two-way communication is between scientists and the public, as well as the importance of this dialogue for the advancement of society. It is evident to me that helping people access scientific knowledge empowers them to make decisions that affect their everyday lives. It is this drive that motivates me to reach out and engage with people about complex scientific topics in an accessible manner. I have studied and worked to mitigate the points where science and its communication may or may not effectively reach various under-represented groups. But how about when the communication of the science itself is problematic because the audience has a closed mind to what is being presented? What if, as well as interacting with an audience that thinks science is not for them for various reasons, you also have you tackle the problem of people immediately jumping to negative conclusions halfway through the first sentence? This can happen in scientific fields as disparate as artificial intelligence, genetically modified crops and psychedelic medicine. These represent some of the most challenging areas for engaging audiences and I enjoy employing my science communication experience to assist researchers in these fields to develop the most effective techniques to present their findings to the public.

 I have always had to devise bespoke techniques of studying to negotiate the fact that I cannot use a pen or lab equipment directly due to my physical disability, cerebral palsy. This included performing laboratory experiments by giving detailed instructions to assistants and writing mathematical equations by controlling the computer with my eyes. I am therefore passionate about broadening the range of avenues available to everyone to access scientific education.

Outreach

I am passionate about communicating my enthusiasm for science, especially physics, to as wide an audience as conceivable, as well as advocating for the inclusion of groups that are typically under-represented in science subjects. I have had the opportunity to speak about increasing the inclusivity of science many times, through my TED Talk and at conferences promoting the research of women and LGBTQ scientists and I am eager to continue to do so.

Charity Ambassador

I represent several charities that operate in the education and disability sectors, including the ACE Centre, SpecialEffect and the Lightyear Foundation to raise awearness and help to secure the funding necessary to continue our vital work.