Biography

Cobi researches participatory and deliberative methods of science communication. She is interested in theories of collaborative learning, deliberative democracy and participatory evaluation. She has led or facilitated deliberative processes about science and technology policy for universities, government departments and non-governmental organizations. 

Cobi worked for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation while completing degrees in journalism and international studies. After working as a newsreader she headed abroad to produce media about youth-led development. She returned home to work for the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics before moving to Cambridge, UK, where she worked on science media projects ranging from podcasts to books. In the UK she freelanced for organisations ranging from the University of Cambridge to the Science and Development Network. Cobi is interested in science and technology supporting sustainable development and environmental security.

She was living in South America when a position at the Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus) lured her home again. She was employed by RiAus with government support to strengthen communities and networks, facilitate and evaluate Inspiring Australia activities. While at RiAus, Cobi created science/theatre projects focused on physics and mathematics. These included a busking show with circus performers about the physics of unicycles, a concert celebrating debate in mathematics, and storytelling about the mathematics of Alice in Wonderland. 

Cobi was part of The Ada Initiative’s first AdaCamp and is an open access activist. She is interested in how technology and games facilitate collaborative learning. She left RiAus to focus on independent science/theatre projects and to write up her PhD. She is experimenting with improvisation and comedy, including Science Impro in the 2013 Adelaide Fringe.