Session 2: The art of storytelling in science communication

We are excited to host Ms. Thembela Mantungwa for our second Science communication training session which will be focused on rekindling the art of storytelling to make science accessible. Learn more about our distinguished speaker, her research, and the upcoming event details below.

Bio:

Ms. Thembela Mantungwa has a master’s degree in public relations and she is currently pursuing a PhD in Media and Communication. She has extensive experience in communication spanning over 10 years. She works at the South African Astronomical Observation and she is currently the Acting Executive Officer for the African Astronomical Society (AfAS) as well as the chair of communication committee. Her research interests are in relational communication, in particular the way in which science institutes engage with society.

Abstract

Storytelling has always been part of our lives; our grandparents passed on important cultural information for archiving and reproduction. This oral transfer of knowledge indicated special family bonding moments and taught us valuable lessons about listening, expression, and interpretation. Therefore, sharing knowledge is not a foreign concept, but with research translation, we sometimes complicate the story because of the lengthy process of knowledge acquisition and academic requirements. The essence of storytelling does not change; the audience does. Let’s rekindle our storytelling abilities together to make science accessible to the media and make our grandparents proud that we are keeping the tradition alive for posterity.

Event Details:

Date: 08 December 2025
Time: 2PM SAST