Profile

Lindsay Keith
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About Me:
I am originally from Scotland but moved down to London after I finished uni for “a couple of years”. That was last century. 💀 So I’m still in London. Following a career that has included science, TV, theatre, festivals and lecturing, I’m now Head of Communications and Engagement at a research institute called the MRC-LMS (MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences)
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I’ve had what people call a “portfolio” career – that is, I’ve changed quite a lot. I did a PhD in Infectious Diseases, and then managed to get a job in TV as a researcher working on science shows. I worked my way up through TV to become a producer and director. Then I ran my own business making short films about science for a while. During this time I founded a festival called SMASHfestUK! SMASH was a science and arts festival with a difference – every festival was based on the story of a massive disaster – a volcano, an asteroid, a flood or wildfire. I loved doing the festival but COVID came along and made events tricky. I moved back into university as a lecturer in Film and TV at the University of Greenwich, and from there moved into my current role as Head of Communications and Engagement for a government-funded medical research institute called the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences.
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My pronouns are:
She/Her
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How I use Science in my work:
When scientists make a new discovery, they write an article about it and publish it in a magazine. The magazines are known as academic journals, and are highly regarded but not easy to read if you don’t have a lot of scientific knowledge. As Head of Communications at a scientific (medical) researcg institute, my team translates the complex science into more easy-to-read articles, which we turn into press releases to send to journalists and newspapers. We hope that the newspapers will cover the stories, as this lets many more people know about the scientific findings our scientists have discovered.
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My Work:
I work to help scientists communicate their findings to people who don’t work in science, sharing their discoveries as widely as possible through news, social media and content creation.
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I haven’t worked in a laboratory in a long time, but my job is to take the discoveries of our brilliant scientists, and try to get that information out into the world. Some stories might make the news – like our “supergranny model mice” – other news we share on the news section of our own website, and other science, we take to festivals, like the Great Exhibition Rd Festival, to do hands-on experiments and demonstrations with visitors. We also create films and animations and other creative content to share our science. My team look after our website, and our foyer 9-screen video wall and the 9 additional digital screens in the building. We also write the weekly and monthly newsletters and help arrange events. So although I don’t do hands-on science in the lab, its my job to translate that science into accessible and interesting content to share it with wider audiences.
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My Typical Day:
I wake up to my alarm and have a shower, then coffee and catch the news. I cycle one hour to work (if its not too wet, otherwise its the London tube), and check my emails and schedule for the day. A typical day has a few meetings, some reading and some writing. I leave between 5 and 6pm and head home.
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I will usually have several meetings each day. I have a wide portfolio of responsibilities so the purpose of these may be varied. They might be to discuss science news stories, or figuring out logistics for making a film or arranging an event. I will usually do a couple of hours of reading and writing work. I need to keep up with scientific discoveries understand the news cycle. I also need to ensure that all the work we have done is rpoerted properly, and that we are able to evaluate what we do. I head home between 1700 and 1800 and usually pick up something for dinner on the way. Cook (or eat if the family have already cooked for me!) and then TV, or possibly a social visit with friends.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I love an escape room, and our SMASHfestUK festivals were all about problem solving using science – I’d put my £500 towards creating an online version of this so that everyone could play!
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Education:
Dunstone Primary School
Wallacestone Primary School
Mosspark Primary School
Wallaacestone Primary School
Graeme High School
University of Aberdeen
Imperial College London
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Qualifications:
8 x “O grades’ These were the equivelent of GCSE’s when I did them
5 x Highers (These are Scottish qualifications to get into university, a bit like A level but you do them in one year)
BSc Zoology (Cell Biology and Immunology)
PhD (the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase in vascular smooth muscle cells)
Currently studying a Level 7 apprenticeship in Executive Leadership.
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Work History:
Research Assistant, University of Newcastle (1997-98)
BBC TV: Researchers 1997-2000)
Travelling through Europe in a Bus (1999)
Freelance TV Researcher, Assistant Producer then Producer/Director (2000-2015)
Ran own company (Refinery TV 2015 – 2023)
Founder and Director of SMASHfestUK (2014-2022)
Reader/Research Fellow, University of Greenwich (2017-2022)
Head of Communications and Engagement, MRC LMS (2022-present) -
Current Job:
Head of Communications and Engagement, MRC LMS (2022-present)
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Employer:
Medical Research Council
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
enthusiastic talker and former immunologist!
What did you want to be after you left school?
actor
Were you ever in trouble at school?
yes - I got thrown out of physics for questioning wave-particle duality of light
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Running a science festival or producing theatre or films or making TV
Who is your favourite singer or band?
old-school ABBA
What's your favourite food?
Chicken - in almost any form
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
I wish I was fundraising genius so that I could run more festivals, a fast motorbike, and I wish I worried less about thiings. They always work out in the end.
Tell us a joke.
conjunctivitis.com – its a site for sore eyes
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