I am a scientist by conviction and by passion. It is science that continuously advances us as a species, towards a better, healthier future – and at the same time, science is full of beauty and fascination. This is an aspect that, in my opinion, receives far too little attention.

I started my science communication to provide insight into the many beautiful and touching aspects of research, which is otherwise presented in a rather sober way. There are far too few points of contact between science and the general public. During the Covid pandemic, this aloofness of science has been shown to be a major driver of scientific skepticism and uncertainty, and has laid the groundwork for growing scientific denial.

Science denial costs lives. With my science communication, I firmly oppose science deniers. I think that we scientists have a responsibility to take the growing skepticism about science seriously and to loudly confront it.

Molecular biologist Sylvia Kerschbaum-Gruber is a postdoc at the Institute of Radiation Oncology at the Medical University of Vienna. As @Molecular.Sylvia, she is active in social media to educate people about medical misinformation and wants to make science accessible for non-scientists.