Archive by category | Science communication and outreach

The Twenty-fifth Hour of the Day: Finding Time for Outreach: Part 2 #reachingoutsci

The Twenty-fifth Hour of the Day: Finding Time for Outreach: Part 2 #reachingoutsci

Academic scientists used to live by the mantra “publish or perish” but a sort of unwelcome relief is in sight: our fears about publishing enough and in prominent places are increasingly surpassed by the demands placed on us as hunters and gatherers of university overhead. With a growing number of soft-money research positions and tenure decisions decided by the number, and size, of NSF or NIH grants, there’s more pressure than ever to lock yourself in your office.  Read more

Crowdfunding: Another Form of Science Outreach

Crowdfunding: Another Form of Science Outreach

Jeanne Garbarino, a Bronx native, currently serves as the Director of Science Outreach at The Rockefeller University in New York City.  After graduating from SUNY Geneseo with a BSc in biology, Jeanne went on to pursue her PhD in nutritional and metabolic biology from the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University.  During her doctoral studies, Jeanne developed an environmental and genetic model to study the process of lipid-induced cell death using yeast as a model system.  She continued her studies in lipid metabolism as a postdoctoral researcher at The Rockefeller University, where she characterized proteins involved in the cellular transport of cholesterol. In addition to her role as a scientific researcher, Jeanne has been involved in many science communication and outreach initiatives, including co-founding SpotOn NYC (SoNYC), which is a monthly science discussion series held at The Rockefeller University in collaboration with Nature.com and Ars Technica.  Read more

What Can Be Done About Glass Ceilings in Science?

What Can Be Done About Glass Ceilings in Science?

Ben Thomas writes articles about a variety of topics for the Riley Guide, an online repository for career and education resources. As a freelancer, Ben also covers scientific research and technological breakthroughs as well as social issues involving the sciences. A regular contributor to several leading science news websites, Ben helps scientists and academics connect with the general public by explaining their latest discoveries and controversies in clear, down-to-earth terms.  Read more

What’s Your Science Maturity Level?

What’s Your Science Maturity Level?

Marc Kuchner is the author of Marketing for Scientists, an astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and a country songwriter. He is the co-inventor of the band-limited coronagraph, a tool for finding planets around other stars that will be part of the James Webb Space Telescope. He is also known for his work on planets with exotic chemistries: ocean planets, helium planets, and carbon planets. Kuchner received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Harvard and his Ph.D. in astronomy from Caltech. He was awarded the 2009 SPIE early career achievement award for his work on planet hunting. He has contributed to more than 100 research papers and published articles in journals including the Astrophysical Journal, Nature, and Astrobiology.  Read more

The Audience You Don’t Know

The Audience You Don’t Know

David Wescott is a Director of Digital Strategy at APCO Worldwide, a global public affairs firm. He has served as a legislative assistant to a United States Senator and administrator of a Pediatrics department at a public hospital in Boston. He blogs at It’s Not a Lecture and is a contributor at Virtual Vantage Points, Science Cheerleader, Earth and Industry, The Broad Side, and Global Voices Online. He lives in Durham, NC.  Read more

Why the Status of Women in STEM Fields Needs to Change

Why the Status of Women in STEM Fields Needs to Change

Ben Thomas writes articles about a variety of topics for the Riley Guide, an online repository for career and education resources. As a freelancer, Ben also covers scientific research and technological breakthroughs as well as social issues involving the sciences. A regular contributor to several leading science news websites, Ben helps scientists and academics connect with the general public by explaining their latest discoveries and controversies in clear, down-to-earth terms.  Read more