SESSION
Hardwired for meaning: how games and stories bring science to life
Words are not always enough. This session will explore ways in which visuals, sound and other alternative methods of storytelling can have a greater impact than a catchy headline.
Lynne SmitSession proposer and producer | Nature Africa | South Africa/England
Lynne Smit is a journalist and communicator who enjoys understanding and ‘translating’ the most complex and technical of subjects, finding the right angle for the target audience, and writing copy that people want to read. Her career track record includes 30 years’ experience working for various organisations, including newspapers in South Africa and London, and as senior writer in the WHO African Region headquarters in Brazzaville. She is currently senior editor at Nature Africa.
Adrian GalleySpeaker | Useful Story Solutions | South Africa
Adrian Galley is an actor, voice artist, and communication specialist whose work bridges performance and neuroscience. With decades of stage, screen, and broadcast experience, he has coached performers, scientists, and leaders in embodied presence and vocal authenticity. His master’s research in the neuroscience of empathy underpins his approach to storytelling as a deeply social, embodied practice that fosters connection and impact in scientific communication.
Vicki BawcombeSpeaker | Useful Story Solutions | South Africa
Vicki Bawcombe is an award-winning South African screenwriter, script editor, and story consultant with a passion for translating complex ideas into compelling narratives. Drawing on her expertise in classical myth, narrative structure, and story development, she helps academics, executives, and creatives alike shape meaningful stories that resonate. Her work equips science communicators with narrative strategies that connect intellectual content to universal human experience.
Ndeye Mane SallSpeaker | Target Malaria | United Kingdom / Senegal
Ndeye Mane Sall is a communications strategist with over 15 years of experience in public relations, crisis communications, and brand positioning. She currently serves as Global Communications Officer at Target Malaria, an international research consortium hosted at Imperial College London, where she leads international media relations and communications campaigns aimed at accelerating the fight against malaria.