Social media is a powerful platform for the dissemination and distortion of scientific information, making the ability to communicate evidence-based knowledge clearly and responsibly a critical graduate capability in the health and biomedical sciences. Through a 4-year-long partnership, advocacy group Reproductive Health Australia (RHA) and the Graduate Diploma of Reproductive Sciences aimed to develop students' capacity to engage meaningfully with the public and advocate for reproductive health through the production of online campaigns.
The initiative challenged students to design public-facing social media campaigns on topical issues in reproductive health, including plastics and fertility, preconception wellbeing, men's health and unpacking the scientific basis of popular fertility aids or apps. Campaigns demonstrating clear, evidence-based messaging had the opportunity to be published on RHA’s platforms, offering real-world visibility and engagement with the community.
The collaboration has produced measurable outcomes for both students and RHA. Students reported increased confidence in communicating complex concepts, a greater understanding of scientists’ roles in public discourse, and a motivation to pursue advocacy in future careers. Student-led campaigns resulted in increased engagement across RHA’s online platforms while generating diverse, on-brand content that would otherwise require significant time and resources. Beyond the assessment task itself, several course alumni have since volunteered with or are employed by RHA. The enduring engagement between course alumni and RHA has enabled ongoing mentorship for junior reproductive scientists, as well as strengthening connections within a national network of like-minded advocates for reproductive research.
This model of collaboration offers a practical and scalable approach to embedding industry partnerships into teaching and learning. By connecting students with real-world issues and audiences, we have supported the development of essential graduate capabilities in science communication and advocacy, while creating meaningful public engagement with reproductive health and research.