2023 Outreach projects
Alvaro Olate-Perez
Chile – Alvaro Olate-Perez, MD, MSc, FEBO, and his colleague led a scientific meeting aimed at presenting and discussing research from the Department of Ophthalmology. The audience consisted of 100 clinicians (ophthalmologists, residents, fellows and optometrists) and researchers (professors, postdoctoral fellows, PhD students and undergraduate students). The format included both oral and poster presentations, with success measured through an online questionnaire post-presentation.
Key highlights of the event included presentation sessions, question and answer sessions and networking opportunities during the coffee break. The conference aimed to stimulate research at translational and basic clinical levels within the department, with abstract selection standards set by an elected Organizing Committee. Selected studies were discussed by subspecialty with a jury of three professors. Noteworthy were the motivational talks by guest professors, including one on communication in science, aligning with lessons learned during the fellowship.
Olate-Perez said, “The lessons learned were many, in relation to the organization of events, but also about the feedback given in the discussions of the studies, in small groups by subspecialty, in which it was possible to connect with the audience.”
Alexis Ceecee Britten-Jones
Australia – Alexis Ceecee Britten-Jones, BOptom (Hons), PhD, participated in a webinar hosted by the Macular Disease Foundation Australia. The webinar focused on macular dystrophies and targeted primary care clinicians (optometrists and orthoptists) and patients interested in the latest research on this topic. The 40-minute online presentation covered various topics including diagnosis, differential diagnosis, gene testing, emerging treatments and diet. With over 100 attendees, the event provided a valuable partnership opportunity and engaged both clinicians and patients. Audience engagement was notable, with numerous questions during the Q&A session, particularly from patients interested in dietary interventions and supplements.
“A lesson learned” started Britten-Jones, “is what we can do to make online webinars more engaging.” The event was made virtual to include attendees outside of Australia and increase accessibility. “Upon reflection, I’ve come to prefer delivering talks and presentations in person a lot more.”
Elin Strachan
Ireland – Elin Strachan, MSci, presented her journey in pursuing a PhD, followed by a lab tour and hands-on laboratory experience for 24 transition year students, about 16 years old, from underachieving schools in Dublin. The goal was to foster interest in science and higher education, potentially influencing their subject choices for their leaving certificates. The format included an introductory presentation, lab and zebrafish facility tours and practical experiments.
Strachan measured the success by student engagement and feedback. Planning involved legal clearance and selecting safe yet meaningful experiments. Unexpectedly, students were highly engaged and curious, with only minor disruptions. Future considerations include setting explicit behavior expectations and preparing contingency activities. Despite minor timing issues, the practical aspects were well-received and students expressed interest in pursuing science degrees. Feedback from the engagement officer was positive, indicating overall success in achieving the event's goals.
For this age group, Strachan felt that “speaking to them respectfully and with an assumption of maturity on their part was more successful.”
Eunice You
Canada – Eunice You, MD, MSc, organized a joint networking and outreach event modeled after “speed dating” for 50 medical students. The event was set up as a resident’s cocktail evening. Participants were provided with a self-serve food station and cocktail bar in a relaxed and intimate setting. Her goal was to motivate students to explore a career in the ophthalmology field as well as prepare them for residency applications.
Several stations were set up representing different specialties. Resident physicians oversaw a station and gave a pitch to the students followed by a Q&A. You provided various resources at her stations such as videos of cataract surgery, her department’s Instagram account and resident contact cards. The event was sold out and the feedback was very positive. Many appreciated the format of the event and how it allowed for true engagement and networking. She was even able to develop a mentor-mentee relationship with two of the attendees.
“Best practices gathered from my experience,” shared You, “the importance of gathering feedback to continuously improve for future iterations…maintaining relationships with students…continued social media engagement and fostering an online community.”
Giulia Corradetti
United States – Giulia Corradetti, MD, developed an ongoing outreach project on Instagram. The goal is to support and empower international medical graduates (IMGs) interested in ophthalmology in the US. Her platform provides resources and celebrates IMG achievements, aiming to foster a sense of community and offer guidance on navigating the medical field in the US.
The content includes posts and stories covering various topics such as pathways to becoming a doctor in the US, relevant events, success stories and motivational content. Success is measured by engagement rates, follower growth and outreach beyond Instagram, with inquiries received via LinkedIn. Plans for the future include expanding the audience, organizing live sessions and podcasts, and maintaining a consistent posting schedule. The project emphasizes personalization, engagement with the audience and collaboration with similar initiatives. It aims to serve as an ongoing resource and support network for IMGs pursuing careers in ophthalmology in the US. Corradetti noted that “in the future, [she aims] to plan live” events “and podcasts to talk and interact with other successful IMGs so that they can share their story and inspire the community.”
Josy Augustine
United Kingdom – Josy Augustine, PhD, participated in an educational event called BIOMEDXPERIENCE – A Research Journey held at the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine (WWIEM) at Queen’s University Belfast. His talk, “Eyeing up the healthy retina”, aimed to raise awareness about retinal health among the public while inspiring science-minded students to explore vision and eye research. The event drew an audience of 50+ people.
His talk covered various topics including the importance of vision, retinal anatomy, clinical imaging advancements and healthy habits. Interactive questions engaged the audience and highlighted key statistics on retinal diseases. Planning involved tailored content with simplified language, interactive elements, and visual aids. The experience provided valuable lessons, emphasizing the importance of emotional engagement, clear communication, and interactive dialogue with the audience. Watching TEDtalk videos provided him with additional insights into effective communication techniques. The event served as motivation to engage more with the public and disseminate research in accessible terms.
“It was rewarding to discuss results from my published research articles and thus share the progress I made during my research journey from PhD student to Postdoc.” said Augustine, “this…was a much-needed motivation in my research career to engage more with the public audience and disseminate my research in simple terms.”
Linjiang Lou
United States – Linjiang Lou, PhD, worked together with Futurum Careers to develop educational resources such as an activity sheet, article and brochure to share her lab’s research with high school students and introduce them to eye and vision science. Futurum Careers, an online platform, partners with researchers to communicate their work effectively to high school students, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and Sport, Health and Physical Education (SHAPE) fields.
Lou worked closely with Futurum Careers’ director/founder and the assistant editor, who facilitated the process and edited drafts. The process involved drafting and refining the article and activity sheet, designing the brochure and publishing the resources on their website. Additionally, it was included in the January issue of Futurum Careers monthly magazine and published on various education sites.
Lou said, “I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, from drafting the article to creating the images to seeing the final product come together. I have gained a new appreciation of the challenge of trying to summarize the research that we do in a way that makes it understandable and engaging for a lay audience.”
Kofi Asiedu
Australia – Kofi Asiedu, OD, developed an online presentation for 20 final-year optometry students from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. His goal was to encourage them to pursue science careers in vision/visual neuroscience instead of following the traditional clinical route. He devised a strategic approach for engagement, starting with personalized invitations via email and WhatsApp messages. Sending out individualized invitations helped foster a sense of connection and enthusiasm among the recipients. He did encounter some logistical obstacles such as aligning schedules. But through flexibility and perseverance, he was able to host a successful event.
Asiedu shared, “The culmination of our efforts manifested in a dynamic exchange during the session, marked by an enriching question-and-answer segment. This interaction not only provided valuable insights into career trajectories but also served as a platform for constructive feedback.”
Mahmoud KhalafAllah
United States - Mahmoud KhalafAllah, MD, MSc, raised awareness about myopia and the vision science field to 20 high schoolers from the Islamic Academy of Alabama. He shared information on the nature of myopia, symptoms, risks and avenues for treatment and prevention. He showcased the various career paths “within the realm of vision science and innovation”, leading him to unveil his research on creating myopia therapies.
The students were thrilled and asked many questions. The presentation was such a success that the school administration invited him to join their volunteer science board. KhalafAllah ecstatically said, “This experience underscored the potential for community engagement, reminding me that sometimes, all it takes is a single step to set a cascade of events in motion. And as I reflected on our collective journey, it became clear that advocacy is not a one-time act but a continuous endeavor, requiring steadfast commitment and unwavering dedication.”
Raiza Perez Lucena
United States – Raiza Perez Lucena, MD, is a scientist for the Study of Latinos (SOL) Ojos study. She wanted to address the lack of information on serious eye conditions by creating a website. Recognizing the importance of education, particularly in Spanish, she conducted research and sought advice to select a suitable platform. Despite being new to website creation, she enjoyed experimenting with layouts and content placement. The website's success lies in its ability to provide accessible information to Spanish-speaking communities, empowering individuals to care for their vision. To promote it, she posted about the website on multiple social media platforms, WhatsApp and online pages.
Through this experience, she learned about effective communication, user-friendly design, and the value of collaboration and seeking guidance. Maintaining a focus on her target audience's needs ensured the website's relevance and effectiveness. Perez Lucena remarked, “Overall, the creation of the SOL Ojos website was a rewarding journey that highlighted the impact of accessible information in promoting eye health. Moving forward, I am committed to continuing this endeavor and further refining our resources to serve our community better.”
Ramya Gnanaraj
United States - Ramya Gnanaraj, MD, conducted her outreach event at Northglenn High School, aimed at Biomed students to explore vision and eye research. She engaged 40 enthusiastic students through interactive presentations and activities. Utilizing tools like PowerPoint, videos, cadaver models and 3D eye models, the event aimed to ignite interest and potentially guide students toward ophthalmology careers.
She found fulfillment in observing students' enthusiastic participation and understanding during interactive activities. This experience highlighted the importance of making complex topics accessible and interesting through varied teaching aids and interactive methods. The event emphasized the power of engagement in sparking curiosity and deeper understanding among students, reinforcing the notion that effective science communication goes beyond imparting knowledge to inspiring passion for the subject. “It’s one thing to teach; it’s another to inspire,” said Gnanaraj, “And that’s what this event was all about – not just imparting knowledge but kindling a passion for science in these young minds.”
Recivall Salongcay
United Kingdom - Recivall Salongcay, MD, MPM, DPBO, organized an event showcasing art related to the eyes, complemented by images from research studies conducted by the Belfast Ophthalmic Reading Centre. This event was part of his lab's Patient Engagement Day and drew around 200 attendees, with 30-40 actively participating in interactive activities. The exhibit featured about 30 framed pieces of artwork, alongside photographs showcasing "microstructures of the visual system," accompanied by brief descriptions and research insights.
Participants had the opportunity to engage with scientists to deepen their understanding of the research's significance and its community implications. They were also provided with eyeglasses simulating common eye disorders, took part in an Ishihara color test and created festive eye baubles. The event's success led to inquiries about future similar events, and the organizers were invited to develop another art exhibit for the Northern Ireland Festival of Science.
“I thoroughly appreciated the whole process of preparing and executing the planned science communication outreach activity.” said Salongcay, “As an introvert, I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed interacting with the attendees and communicating vision science.”
Poonam Naik
United States – Poonam Naik, PhD, inspired 20 high school students enrolled in the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program to delve into the vision and eye research field, emphasizing the vital significance of eye health and its profound influence on global well-being. Before the event, she collaborated with the program directors to ensure that her presentation would meet their requirements. Her focus was on developing an engaging presentation by incorporating multimedia elements such as videos and animations to elucidate complex vision science concepts. She also used picture-based comparisons to vividly demonstrate the effects of various eye diseases.
The presentation was well-received, sparking lively post-discussions covering topics ranging from ocular anatomy to advanced eye disease treatments. Students displayed a keen interest, with some expressing a desire to join her lab. A highlight was the hands-on segment where students interacted with props, including a real human eyeball, providing an educational and captivating experience. She is maintaining contact with them and planning to host a student in her lab this summer. Naik commented, “It was a vivid reminder that science is not just about discoveries and advancements but also about sparking curiosity and fostering a lifelong passion for exploration. I am immensely grateful to ARVO for this opportunity. It has been an enriching experience.”
Check out the photos on her Instagram page.
Shubham Maurya
United States - Shubham Maurya, PhD, had the opportunity to talk about his glaucoma research at an event organized by Berkeley Public Library in California called Popping the Science Bubble. The event’s target audience was individuals aged 50-60 to educate them on glaucoma and share future treatments.
The presentation included eye anatomy, the basics of human vision, glaucoma, his research and potential treatments. To increase engagement, he brought an eyeball prop and shared a QR code that linked to the National Eye Institute’s glaucoma page. The event was telecasted on Zoom and YouTube to expand its reach. The event proved to be a triumph, especially the Q&A which was very interactive and the audience asked meaningful questions about glaucoma and his research.
Maurya expressed, “One of the key lessons learned was the importance of clear communication…making the content accessible and relatable. Overall, the event was a rewarding experience, demonstrating the power of community engagement in science and the potential impact of innovative research on society.”
Sidra Sarwat
Australia - Sidra Sarwat’s, BOptom, MSc, outreach project involved conducting a recorded session during the 1st International STEAM conference in Pakistan, aiming to introduce nanomedicine concepts to optometry students, clinicians and researchers. The session aimed to educate optometry students about the importance of quantum dots in addressing eye health issues like dry eye disease and to inspire interest in this emerging field within the Pakistani optometry community. Designing the session presented challenges due to the novelty of introducing quantum dots to optometry, but she endeavored to create an engaging experience by incorporating a diverse array of visuals and infographics. The presentation also included interactive elements and was promoted across various social media platforms.
The webinar's success was measured by metrics like attendance numbers, questionnaire responses and post-webinar survey questions. Positive feedback, especially from optometry students, encouraged her to further explore her research topic. Through this outreach activity and her participation in the SCTF program, she learned that effective science communication is a reciprocal process that benefits both the communicator and the audience. Utilizing diverse communication strategies, such as graphics and storytelling, proved instrumental in capturing the audience's attention and effectively conveying ideas.
“Reflecting on my journey through SCTF, I can confidently say it was a rewarding experience.” remarked Sarwat, “By comparing my communication skills at the beginning and end of the fellowship, I can appreciate the significant improvement and acquisition of new resources for science communication.”
