IBG T&T Session: “Reimagining scientific excellence: why communication is core to competency” by Dr. Emma Yhnell
We are excited to announce that Dr. Emma Yhnell (Cardiff University, UK) will be giving a webinar as part of the IBG Teaching & Training (T&T) series.
Dr. Yhnell’s talk is titled ’Reimagining scientific excellence: why communication is core to competency’.
This session will explore why effective communication should be recognised as a core scientific competency and how it enables researchers to create meaningful impact beyond academia.
Date: Thursday, 2 July 2026
Time: 11:00 AM (GMT+3)
Location: Online
Please follow the link to register for the talk and we will send you the meeting details.
About the session:
Scientific excellence has traditionally been defined through research outputs, grants and publications. But in an increasingly complex and interconnected world, is that definition still fit for purpose? In this session Dr Emma Yhnell will challenge conventional notions of academic success and argue that communication should be a core professional competency for scientists, which is appropriately recognised and rewarded.
Drawing on her career as a neuroscientist, award-winning educator, science communicator and Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Cardiff University, Emma will explore how effective communication underpins every aspect of scientific practice. From engaging patients and research participants, to teaching students, influencing policy, collaborating across disciplines and building public trust in science, communication is central to creating meaningful impact.
Reflecting on her own journey from laboratory-based Huntington’s disease research to clinical research, higher education leadership and national media engagement, Emma will share how communication skills have shaped her career and expanded the reach of her work beyond traditional academic boundaries. Along the way, she will draw on experiences ranging from BBC radio presenting and science festivals to public engagement initiatives and international leadership roles.
About the speaker:
Dr Emma Yhnell is a passionate and multi award-winning educator and science communicator, she won the Society for Neuroscience Science Educator Award in 2024 and a National Teaching Fellowship in 2023, and is currently Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and a Reader in Neuroscience at Cardiff University.
Emma obtained a BSc degree in Biochemistry before completing a PhD in Huntington’s disease. She then began an independent research fellowship to translate her findings on cognitive training into the patient clinic. Emma’s clinical research inspired her and demonstrated the need to provide accessible and engaging information to diverse public audiences.
Emma now teaches the next generation of budding scientists as a teaching and scholarship focused academic. Emma delivers engaging and interactive sessions with passion and infectious enthusiasm, and she has built a reputation for her ability to untangle the academically technical and translate it into entertaining, relevant and engaging content. As a first generation academic with expertise in equity, diversity and inclusion, and a passion and desire to embrace change, Emma is changing the typical image of academia by making science more open, honest and fun.