On May 8th, 2025, Kayla from the University of Salento attended the SAYAS Blogging Workshop, organized by the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS). The event focused on using social media to make science more accessible and relatable. Naturally, Kayla brought her A-game!
When asked about her role at the event, Kayla shared,
“I was invited to talk about how I use my Instagram blog (@kayla_in_lecce) to share my PhD journey and raise awareness about the AGRI-DRY project.”
Kayla believes that sharing her experiences online makes the research more approachable and helps others understand the reality of being an international PhD student.
“I hope that by being honest about my experiences, others going through something similar might feel a little less alone,” she said.
One key message from the workshop really struck a chord with her:
“You don’t need to be a professional science communicator or an influencer to make an impact. Small, consistent posts that are based on facts can really help bridge the gap between science and society,” Kayla reflected.
Her takeaway? Authenticity matters. Sharing a little bit of your journey — whether it’s a breakthrough or a tough day — can make science feel a lot more human and relatable. And who knows? It might just spark someone’s interest in climate change, agriculture, or sustainability!
Kayla’s passion for connecting science with everyday life aligns perfectly with AGRI-DRY’s mission to make research not just informative, but also relatable. Engage with Kayla’s PhD journey through @kayla_in_lecce.
And keep following AGRI-DRY (@agri_dry) on instagram for all the exciting science coming up!
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