ABC Top 5 Arts winners - Dr Sarah Rhodes, Shirin Barghnavard, Jordan Alice Fyfe, Lolita Emmanuel and Sabrina McKenzie
Edith Cowan University (ECU) PhD candidate Shirin Barghnavard has returned from the ABC Top 5 Arts Residency with a sharper toolkit for bringing her research to the public.
The prestigious program selects just five early-career researchers in science, arts and humanities each year to undertake two weeks of intensive media training at ABC Radio National. Participants learn skills in podcasting, radio production, digital storytelling, and effective research communication, while gaining behind-the-scenes access to the national broadcaster.
Shirin Barghnavard. Image credit - Frederique Le Brun
Shirin's PhD research is exploring the impact of Iran's politicised climate on Iranian female documentary filmmakers.
"The residency provided an excellent opportunity to learn how to communicate effectively beyond my specialisation," Shirin said.
"I was able to share both my research and the personal journey behind it with a national audience, which was incredibly rewarding."
Dr Sarah Rhodes and Shirin Barghnavard practice interviewing each other. Image credit - Lolita Emmanuel
A highlight of the residency was her 25-minute interview on Arts in 30 with ABC Radio National's Sky Kirkham, which aired nationally and as a podcast episode.
Shirin said the experience not only strengthened her storytelling skills but also revealed new dimensions of her research.
"One of the most valuable lessons I learned was the power of brevity and how expressing complex ideas clearly and concisely can make them more impactful," she said.
"The residency also helped me frame my work in ways that resonate with a broader audience."
She credited the program with expanding her professional network and broadening her understanding of interdisciplinary communication.
"This experience will continue to benefit both my research and career moving forward," Shirin said.
Read more about the 2025 winners of ABC's Top 5.
