Stories that matter from the world of science and technology.

A man with brown hair and a beard sitting at a table with a microphone in front of him, writing on a notepad, in a modern office setting.

Humans learn through story and science is full of amazing narratives and characters. How these stories play out directly influence our society and it’s future. As a science journalist and communicator I aim to inform and entertain as well as assist scientists in telling their own stories. We all have a stake in the scientific endeavor, let’s talk about it.

What I do

I’ve published 900+ news stories, blogs, features, podcasts, and videos. My work has appeared in Scientific American, Undark Magazine, Chemistry World, Hakai, C&EN Magazine, The Nautilus and more. I also produce content (written, audio, video) for clients who want to share their scientific story. Finally, I offer training and courses for scientists and journalists on effective science communication and storytelling. If you have a tip for a story, need a speaker or host for podcasts and live events, are looking for help communicating your research or training for your group get in touch and see examples of my work below.

A man in a black jacket and gray pants stands on a beach, holding a smartphone with microphone and smiling, with the ocean and cloudy sky in the background.

Selected Works

Called to Science - Podcast for the leading Belgian life sciences institute VIB.

When litter becomes habitat - Hakai Magazine

After movie for Belgian Women in Science - Wise Night 2024

Promotional video for The Laboratory for Brain-Gut Axis Studies (LaBGAS) at KU Leuven. How diet can combat stress and mood disorders.

My Story

A man with a beard holding a microphone standing near a podium with laptops, with a large screen behind him displaying text Bradley Van Paridon freelance science journalist.

I completed a Ph.D. in Biology studying parasites and it was during this time that I realized the lab was not for me. Thankfully, I had supportive supervisors and was part of a lab group that encouraged careers outside of academia. This led me to pursue science communication and journalism after graduation. With lots of work and amazing mentors I built a successful career as a freelancer. While it was an unconventional path to journalism and communication my education as a scientist gave me valuable insight and skills that allow me to connect the worlds of science, journalism and communication. This experience informs everything I do and helped create workshops and training for scientists and journalists and a range of services for labs and research groups.

A man with brown hair and a beard wearing a maroon t-shirt speaking into a black microphone and interviewing a woman with long dark hair, in a bright white room with a large green plant in the background.

Workshops and Training

I offer customizable workshops on science communication, popular science writing and podcasting. These are suitable for graduate students, post-docs, and academics interested in improving their outreach and science communication skills and are offered online and in-person. Courses are also adaptable to early career journalists unfamiliar with the nuances of covering a science heavy beat. My teaching style is hands on and students learn by writing and recording podcasts during the sessions. At the heart of all my courses is a belief that scientists needs to embrace the role of storyteller and engage their audience rather than lecture them. My workshops are built on communication research and my 8+ years of experience publishing science news.

Core concepts:

  • Storytelling

  • Using data to drive a narrative

  • Identifying an audience

  • Avoiding jargon

  • Breaking free from the knowledge deficit model

  • Common mistakes academics make when writing for the public

  • Podcasting - why do it and how to start

To book a course on Popular Science Writing or Podcasting for Scientists or to inquire about other course offerings use the get in touch link below.

Content Creation and PR Services

Managing social media feeds, podcast and video production, hosting live events, blogs, press releases and more. If you are a lab group looking to increase your outreach and impact contact me via the link below for details and rates. I know what academic life and research looks like and I’ve learned what audiences are looking for. Let me bring your work to life with engaging content tailored made for your audience.