Bonnie O'Malley
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braincox.bsky.social
Bonnie O'Malley
@braincox.bsky.social
CogNeuro PhD @mpicbs.bsky.social
Post-doc @liu.se
Researching Hormones & Social Neuroscience
Trying to bring neuroscientists and alternative culture closer together through science communication <3
It's nice to hear your reflections as someone with real life experiences! Definitely something we need more of in science. I don't think COVID did us any good, but i guess we'll need more research to pinpoint which problems come from what, and start finding solutions from there on ❤️
June 27, 2025 at 7:14 PM
I'm not disagreeing that there are more disabilities. I'm wondering whether the reason is COVID infection, or the pandemic social isolation. Babies learn a lot from looking at faces (without masks), at kindergarten and with other family members and close friends. So maybe this is partially relevant.
June 27, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Why assume when you can just read the paper? Unfortunately the control group were not contactable so there is no control reported.
June 13, 2025 at 10:01 AM
There was no control participants making that difficult to fully support. There is also a secondary aspect that the mother was likely isolated. Large bodies of research show social isolation suppresses immune function. Important results - I hold hope that it is less extreme post COVID context
June 13, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Yes but the cognitive and developmental delays weren't fetuses, but 24 month olds who underwent moderate-severe social isolation 🤗
June 13, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Really important research! I see this study was carried out during/just after the height of the pandemic, and wonder if some of the developmental delays can be attributed to the reduced social contact and support systems available at that time?
June 13, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Reposted by Bonnie O'Malley
Integrating the menstrual cycle into heart-brain research is a crucial step toward advancing sex-specific medicine and improving outcomes for female brain and body health, argues a new #ScienceAdvances Focus. #WomensHealth scim.ag/4bG8Lso
The monthly rhythm of the brain-heart connection
Integrating the menstrual cycle into heart-brain research is a crucial step toward advancing sex-specific medicine and improving outcomes for female brain and body health.
scim.ag
March 11, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Wow! How did no-one think of this before?! I wonder if it works almost as a counter-mechanism to sleep pressure, i.e. cortisol pressure builds to make waking up inevitable-> why those with blunted cortisol may oversleep. Rly anticipating follow up studies that can come from this - congrats!
January 15, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Please could I join? Part of my research looks at mindfulness and interoceptive processes <3 Thanks!
January 11, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Thank you! Oh wow, it looks like you're doing some really exciting stuff, would love to connect! I really miss the UK and its vibrant scicomm scene! Things are only really getting started here in Germany, but trying to ride the wave ;)
January 9, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Thanks 4 reading! Feel free to hit me up with questions & shameless plug: As a passionate science communicator I’ve done (well, attempted) most of the above. I have also given scicomm beginner workshops to master’s and PhD students. Am happy to receive invites to guest lecture / workshop scicomm <3
January 6, 2025 at 10:03 AM
In all the above: THE PRESS OFFICE ARE YOUR FRIENDS. I am so grateful to my press office (specifically Bettina @mpicbs.bsky.social) for all their support and pointing me in the right direction and I hope everyone has people as passionate working at theirs. They likely have even more ideas!!
January 6, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Museums/Schools: Find your local museums/schools and get talking. They may already have a day organized for local scientists to get involved. If not, you can straight up offer a workshop and see what they say (Yes, obviously)
January 6, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Artists/Musicians: You can honestly get creative and see what your friends are up to and decide to collaborate. Last week I met up with my friend who makes noise music & now I’m making a scientific contribution to their zine lol
January 6, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Blogging: Writing is a wonderful form of science communication. You could start your own blog, or if you don’t want to commit to something so big, volunteer to guest write on someone else’s. Your institute will likely have a blog, or know a local blog to contribute to
January 6, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Podcasts: Again, V labour intensive. However, if you’re lucky you may be able to get a lot of technical, sound and grafik support for postproduction. Alternatively, rather than adding to an already saturated market, find a podcast to be a guest on (e.g. there may already be one at your uni)
January 6, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Clubs: The party scene is surprisingly receptive to science? I put on a night in a small DIY club in Leipzig, alternating science talks and bands/DJs. The promotor from a big Leipzig techno club happened to be there & was like ‘I want this night but bigger and better in my club’ so we did it lol
January 6, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Create your own event: Most institutions will have some sort of funding allocated to scicomm. Make friends with your press office, they will likely know more. I wrote several convincing enough proposals to MPI, and got funding for 2 festivals, we really got our science out there it was mad fun
January 6, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Soapboxberlin: Ongoing series of events that specifically gives a platform to women in research. This is usually in the form of a short talk to other scientists and the public, great for networking and meeting new people
January 6, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Other festivals: If you already have a bit of experience in scicomm, it’s worth writing to festivals that have dedicated space for talks and workshops. Write them a line about what you do and what you could offer. This is especially relevant for smaller festivals with a DIY feel
January 6, 2025 at 10:03 AM