Athena Dinar
Deputy Head of Communications
Team
General enquiries
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Athena Dinar
Deputy Head of Communications
Biography
Athena is Head of Media and Deputy Head of Communications. She develops and delivers engagement strategies for the BAS Science programme Polar Science for a Sustainable Future. She is responsible for campaign planning, content, media relations (manages the BAS Press Office), media visits, exhibition projects and public engagement in the Communications Team at British Antarctic Survey.
Athena takes a lead role in managing all aspects of communications activity and line manages four of the team. She has over 25 years of experience in promoting polar research and uses a range of tools to keep the subject in the public discourse. She has escorted several media crews to Antarctica and Arctic over her time at BAS including BBC TV News, Reuters, BBC Horizon and Radio 4 Today Programme. She also works on large scale events, taking the lead on event management and media management.
Research interests
Collaborations
Publications from NERC Open Research Archive
- Antarctica InSync
- SURFEIT
- International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration
- 60 Second Science
- Halley Research Station relocation
- Communications team
2016
ANTARCTIC BLOG: BBC arrives at Halley #3
Blog 5 February, 2016
ANTARCTIC BLOG: BBC enroute to Halley #2
Blog 27 January, 2016
ANTARCTIC BLOG: BBC crew enroute to Halley #1
Blog 19 January, 2016
2023
New ‘live lessons’ offer interactive learning for kids
News 13 November, 2023
2022
Polar Fest at The Deep, Hull
Event 1 December, 2022
2021
Celebrating International Women’s Day
News 8 March, 2021
2020
Antarctica Week Festival 2020
Event 30 November, 2020
2019
Antarctica. BBC blockbuster Seven Worlds, One Planet
News 23 October, 2019
2018
New polar research ship makes a ‘splash’
News 11 July, 2018
Joint UK-U.S. Antarctic programme to study future sea level rise
News 30 April, 2018
2017
STEM educators ‘twilight’ event
Event 1 November, 2017
Where science meets art: author talks about new Antarctic thriller
Event 25 May, 2017
2016
EXHIBITION: New Scientist Live
Event 22 September, 2016
The Communications Team works collectively on high profile projects. Our work has been recognised by our industry peers. Including:
Awards and nominations for Public Relations
Mark of Excellence for best STEM campaign – Ticket to Antarctica (2024/5)
Nomination for best STEM campaign – RRS Sir David Attenborough (2020)
Maritime Foundation Award – best website (www.bas.ac.uk)(2018)
CIPR Cream Award – Silver for Best In-house PR Department
PRWeek Award Finalist for Best Public Sector Dept of the Year
CorpComms Winner for Best Public Sector Award for ‘Discover Antarctica’ public engagement campaign & event (Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, Edinburgh 2006)
CorpComms Winner for Best use of Broadcast (for ITV News Antarctic visit – the Big Melt)
CIPR Excellence Awards Finalist in Broadcast Category (for ITV News Antarctic visit – the Big Melt)
Awards and nominations for Education
BAFTA Winner for Offline Educational Resource Antarctic Waves
Scottish Association of Geography Teachers award for DiscoveringAntarctica online educational resource
The Geographical Association award for DiscoveringAntarctica online educational resource
Childrens BAFTA nomination for Secondary Education
International Webby Award nomination for Education