Ms Cobi Smith

Biography/ Background

Cobi was firmly focused on journalism in Adelaide when the Australian Broadcasting Corporation sent her to work as their newsreader and journalist in Port Lincoln. There she found issues like aquaculture, conservation, desalination and drought more interesting than crime and local politics.

She moved into science communication, working for the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics before moving to Cambridge, UK, in 2006. There she worked on science media projects ranging from podcasts to books, for organisations including a publisher, university and commercialisation consultancy. Most of her work examines how science fits in society; she is passionate about science supporting sustainable development.

Cobi was drawn back to Australia and now juggles commitments at the Australian National University and the University of Adelaide. She is completing a research degree in science communication through the ANU's Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, while working on publications emerging from the Big Picture Bioethics project.

Publications

Smith, C and Firth, L (2008) Sustainability and Environment, Cambridge: Independence Educational Publishers

Smith, C and Firth, L (2008) Climate Change, Cambridge: Independence Educational Publishers

Smith, C and Firth, L (2008) Migration and Population, Cambridge: Independence Educational Publishers

Smith, C (2007) Suriname has 'already hit' malaria MDG, Science and Development Network, 20 September

Smith, C (2007) Antimalarials 'give children an edge' at school, Science and Development Network, 18 September

Smith, C and Crewdson, S (2007) Smoking Trends, Cambridge: Independence Educational Publishers

Smith, C and Crewdson, S (2007) Media Issues, Cambridge: Independence Educational Publishers

Smith, C and Crewdson, S (2007) Mental Health, Cambridge: Independence Educational Publishers

Firth, L  and Smith, C (2007) The Cloning Debate, Cambridge: Independence Educational Publishers

Firth, L  and Smith, C (2007) Problem Drinking, Cambridge: Independence Educational Publishers

Firth, L  and Smith, C (2007) Vegetarian and Vegan Diets, Cambridge: Independence Educational Publishers

Smith, C and Adelaja, A (2007) Scholars call for communications cable access, Science and Development Network, 24 May

Professional Associations

Association of British Science Writers

Australasian Medical Writers Association

Australian Science Communicators

Entry last updated: Saturday, 12 Dec 2009