Beth Amato’s LI Post
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Meet
Beth Amato
, SSACAB’s communication officer, a public health research communicator and writer at the University of Witwatersrand and Wits Health Consortium.
As a child, Beth preferred poetry and storytelling over science. It wasn’t until later in her education that she discovered the connection between captivating stories and scientific research. Her perspective was shaped by personal tragedy—her mother struggled with mental illness and took her life—which sparked Beth’s lifelong curiosity about trauma, psychology, brain development, and the roots of violence in South Africa. This unique lens led to recognition, including a fellowship at the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma. Driven by curiosity, Beth collaborated with developmental biology researchers, marking the start of her science communication journey. Reflecting on her path, she shares a simple mantra: “You don’t have to be the best storyteller—just do it. Tell the story. Make the mistake.”
Beth’s vision of success centers on revealing the beauty of humanity through science—highlighting complexity, nuance, and connection to health. Outside of work, she enjoys yoga, sewing dolls, crafting origami, and reliving childhood through her two children.
Alongside her work, Beth is contributing to a broader communications refresh for SSACAB’s science communication strategy, which includes research storytelling, branding alignment, website content improvements and capacity-building workshops in science communication and media engagement and training the researchers on how to articulate their research findings in a language that can be understood by the public.
Learn more about Beth’s work:
https://lnkd.in/dAuCrDsD
Catch her full story in the latest episode:
https://lnkd.in/gdYc4j9f