In this Halloween edition, Kacie speaks with Dr. Brett Blaauw, a peach entomologist at the University of Georgia. Dr. Blaauw shares strategies for engaging diverse audiences about insects from engaging kids with fun facts about dung beetles to helping adults appreciate pollinators through their connection to coffee and chocolate. They discuss agricultural extension methods including on-farm research, conferences, and apps. The conversation highlights the critical role of beneficial insects, especially parasitoid wasps, in natural pest control.
In this episode, host Kacie speaks with Quandra Gray, founder of What the Sprout, about bridging academic agricultural knowledge with practical community applications. Quandra discusses her transition from communications to creating microgreen cultivation workshops that address food insecurity through education and self-reliance. They explore strategies for overcoming barriers like fear of failure, balancing scientific accuracy with genuine human connection, and how academic expertise can serve fundamental community needs beyond traditional professional settings.
In this episode, host Kacie speaks with Corey Gumbs, founder of the Black Podcasters Association and board member of Air Media, about his unconventional path into science communication. Corey shares his personal journey from music and web development to building communities around science podcasting, exploring how each experience shaped his approach to making complex topics accessible. Drawing from childhood curiosity about taking apart radios to current work teaching toddlers, he discusses the lessons learned along the way about connecting with diverse audiences and the responsibility that comes with science communication.
In this episode, host Kacie speaks with Mezu, artist and technologist at Infinity Village Lab, about revolutionary approaches to civic science communication through participatory art. Drawing from their interdisciplinary background in sociology and data analysis, Mezu discusses how they discovered that "bar graphs don't make you cry" and developed their innovative "creative cross analysis" process. They explore how art interventions can engage core cultural identities in ways traditional data visualization cannot. Mezu shares insights from projects like Field to Act and Public Comment, revealing how moving data beyond screens and into embodied experiences can bridge the gap between information and meaningful action for social change.
In this episode, host Kacie speaks with Alex Ip, founder and editor of The Xylom, about creating the only Asian American-run science news outlet in the United States. Alex shares how his background as a Hong Kong native studying in Atlanta led him to identify gaps in science communication for diverse audiences.
The Xylom focuses on "science and society stories" exploring environmental justice, the intersection of the American South and global South, and giving voice to underrepresented perspectives in science. Alex discusses their commitment to multilingual reporting and building collaborative networks during challenging times for journalism and democracy.
In this episode, host Kacie speaks with Noelle Daoire, MEd, managing editor at Shimmer, about effective ADHD communication methods. Drawing from their personal experience, Noelle discusses how ADHD information differs on social media versus clinical channels. They explore why short-form, visual content can be inherently more ADHD-friendly, and share editorial strategies for creating accessible neurodivergent content. Noelle offers valuable insights for science communicators on balancing clinical accuracy with engaging presentation while acknowledging diverse ADHD experiences.
Molecular biologist turned full-time science communicator Zakiya Whatley joins Kacie from Atlanta to discuss how effective science communication begins with understanding your audience. As the host of multiple podcasts including Dope Labs and Breakthrough, Atlanta's Zakiya shares her "audience first" approach to making complex scientific concepts accessible without sacrificing accuracy. She discusses how delivery is often more important than the information itself, the challenges of our current information ecosystem where facts become group identity signals, and her expanding work in written media and film. Zakiya offers practical advice for scientists looking to better communicate their work, emphasizing the importance of leading with your core message and limiting supporting points to what audiences can realistically absorb.
In this episode, Kacie talks with Emma Yarbrough, senior producer for Story Collider in Atlanta, about how personal storytelling can transform science communication. They explore how Story Collider finds and coaches both scientists and non-scientists to share their science stories on stage, building trust and community in the process. Emma shares insights about overcoming imposter syndrome, the evolutionary power of narrative, and why humanizing scientists is crucial in an era of polarization and misinformation. Through compelling live shows and their popular podcast, Story Collider is proving that everyone has a science story worth telling, and that these personal narratives might be exactly what we need to make science more accessible and trustworthy to all.
In this episode, Kacie talks with Karen Jialu Bao, a recent graduate of Harvard’s Molecules, Cells, and Organisms (MCO) PhD program and a published young adult science fiction author. Bao shares her journey from childhood bug collecting to studying mosquito brain mechanisms, all while pursuing her love of storytelling. Her latest book, Pangu’s Shadow, features two immigrant female science students solving a murder mystery in space. Bao reflects on bridging science and creativity, the role of scientific literacy for young people, and how fear can limit learning. She highlights that success in science comes in many forms and often requires skills beyond academic performance.
Join host Kacie as she talks with Jen Christiansen, Senior Graphics Editor at Scientific American Magazine, about the evolving world of science communication through visual storytelling. As both an artist and scientist, Jen shares insights from her journey of combining these fields and discusses her book "Building Science Graphics." They explore urgent questions about making evidence-based information accessible, particularly for communities most impacted by climate change and public health challenges. The conversation explores how science communication is transforming, from traditional institutional channels to social media platforms, and the critical need to help audiences understand the scientific process itself.
In this episode of Consider This Next, Kacie speaks with Britt DeVries, Lead Data Scientist at the Idea Exchange in Miami, Florida about reimagining how science communicators can build meaningful relationships with communities they serve. Through their syringe services program, Britt and her team demonstrate how combining data science with on-the-ground community engagement can create lasting impact. From their success in early outbreak detection to the evolution of their services based on community feedback, the conversation explores how implementation science and trust-building can transform public health outcomes. Britt shares practical insights about meeting people where they are, the power of word-of-mouth in reaching marginalized communities, and using data visualization to tell compelling stories that matter to both academic and community audiences.
Fanuel Muindi interviews MIT undergraduate Lyne-Nicole Odhiambo, who participated in the 2024 virtual summer internship program in the Civic Science Media Lab affiliated with Northeastern University. At a local cafe in Cambridge, Massachusetts, next to MIT’s campus, Odhiambo shares the inspiration behind the summer project of mapping climate-focused sustainability initiatives in Kenya and reflects on the broader questions that have continued to guide their work. “I wanted to focus on not only seeing victims of climate catastrophe as victims, but also as holders of knowledge in ways to mitigate and respond to these catastrophes.”
Odhiambo expands by saying “It’s crucial to understand that communities on the front lines of climate change have their own solutions—solutions that come from their lived experiences.”
Odhiambo discusses the challenges encountered, including language barriers and political unrest: “I expected to just go in, find people, and have it be fine, but quickly realized that my shaky Swahili and the political climate made building rapport much more difficult.” Despite these hurdles, Odhiambo found another angle by shifting the project focus to mapping local initiatives: “Instead of trying to interview people directly, I decided to map the landscape of sustainability and climate adaptive technologies in Kenya from afar, using what I could gather from existing resources and supplementing that with quotes from those (leaders) I could reach.”
Odhiambo's work culminates in an upcoming piece that not only discusses the importance of local knowledge but also points out the need for more mapping work around collaborations between grassroots organizations. “There’s so much more that can be done if these organizations could synergize their efforts rather than working in isolation,” Odhiambo remarks.
The interview also touches on the lab’s broader mission to inspire the next generation of civic science scholars and practitioners through hands-on internships like the one Odhiambo participated in. Looking ahead into the future, Odhiambo shares, “I see myself acting as a bridge between the technical side of science and the community-oriented side, making knowledge more accessible to everyone.”
Odhiambo's upcoming piece will be published on the lab terminal.
https://civicsciencemedia.org
In this episode of Consider This Next, host Kacie Luaders sits down with Doctora Nicole, a former astrophysicist turned social impact entrepreneur, to explore the critical realm of inclusive science communication. Doctora Nicole shares her journey from studying the stars to founding Movement Consulting, a company dedicated to transforming STEM culture into a more welcoming space for marginalized individuals. The conversation explores the challenges faced by diverse scientists in academia, the importance of visual storytelling in making complex concepts accessible, and strategies for connecting with varied audiences. Doctora Nicole emphasizes the interconnectedness of social justice and science communication, offering valuable insights for researchers, educators, and science enthusiasts alike. This timely discussion underscores the necessity of adapting communication strategies in an increasingly diverse world and provides thought-provoking questions for science communicators to consider in their work.
Featured are the voices of Carla Scaletti (Composer and Software Designer) and Martin Gruebele (Professor of Chemistry, Physics, Biophysics and Computational Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), who presented at the 2022 “Mapping Numbers to Sound – From Scientific Exploration to Immersive Musical Experience” Meeting on Oct 11, 2022 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign" Watch the full meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y-5BKN0nLg The Journey is a sonification and animation of protein-folding dynamics developed by Martin Gruebele and Carla Scaletti ." Original Release: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdjJj7MGnGc Martin Gruebele: https://chemistry.illinois.edu/mgruebel Carla Scaletti: https://carlascaletti.com/
Special Correspondent Okeyo interviews Dr. Hamisi Babusa, a pioneering Kiswahili author and lecturer at Kenyatta University. Dr. Babusa shares the story behind his groundbreaking work in Kiswahili science fiction and his mission to educate children through storytelling.
Dr. Babusa discusses how he introduced Kiswahili science fiction to Kenyan students, despite initial skepticism from publishers. “Some publishers rejected the stories,” he recalls, saying they considered the concept “very strange, very foreign.” However, he persisted, and his books now help children understand scientific concepts in their native language, Kiswahili.
The conversation highlights innovative approaches to teaching, such as Dr. Babusa’s “Makumba” series, where children learn about biology through the adventures of a magic vehicle that shrinks and explores the human body. “The magic vehicle enters the grandmother’s body while she’s eating,” Dr. Babusa explains, giving young readers a fun, imaginative way to learn about digestion.
Dr. Babusa also emphasizes the importance of teaching science in local languages: “Children understand better when taught in their indigenous language,” he says, arguing that teaching in a foreign language, like English, creates barriers to learning.
Looking to the future, Dr. Babusa hopes to inspire the next generation of African scientists, saying, “In the next five to ten years, I hope to see a scientific revolution… the children who are learning science through Kiswahili today will become the inventors and problem solvers of tomorrow.”
In this episode of Consider This Next, host Kacie Luaders speaks with Christine Giver, the host of the podcast and YouTube show Outside of the Box. Christine discusses her journey into the world of combat robotics, including her inspiration from the show BattleBots and the path that led her to become a science communicator. She shares how she makes complex robotics accessible to a wide audience and offers advice for scientists looking to engage with the public. Christine also talks about her efforts in building a community through Discord and how her involvement in the National STEM Challenge and Festival highlights the importance of inspiring young innovators in STEM fields.
In this 4th segment of a special series on CivicSciTV’s Questions of the Day (QOTD) Program, Africa Correspondent Stephanie Okeyo interviews Dr. Jeanne Mortimer, a marine biologist with a focus on sea turtles and tropical coastal and marine ecosystems. With experience working in 20 countries across six continents, Dr. Mortimer shares insights from a project in Seychelles that successfully integrated local Creole names for seagrass species into public discourse. The interview also includes Annike Faure, the Coastal Wetlands and Climate Change Project Manager at Seychelles Conservation & Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT).
They highlight key lessons learned, including the importance of using native languages to engage communities, the power of naming in conservation efforts, and the need for perseverance, determination, and collaboration across diverse stakeholders to achieve lasting impact. Additionally, they emphasize the value of involving local knowledge holders, such as fishermen, and the necessity of continuous public engagement to ensure that scientific efforts are meaningful and culturally resonant. The discussion underscores the idea that conservation success depends on making science relatable and accessible to all levels of society.
Keywords: science communication, language diversity, Seychelles, seagrass, Creole, public engagement, conservation, marine biology, community engagement, collaboration, cultural resonance, local knowledge.
This episode features Cindy Marie Jenkins, a digital navigator and Creative Editor of Outthinkmedia who discusses her work on media literacy, especially its effects on children. Insights include the significance of open communication, understanding the scientific implications of media, and fostering curiosity in children. The episode concludes with thought-provoking questions on the relationship between neuroscience, media consumption, and civic engagement.
In this segment, CivicSciTV’s Questions of the Day (QOTD) Program features Special Correspondent Stephanie Okeyo interviewing Dr. Syriacus Buguzi, a doctor, science journalist, and co-founder of Research Com. Dr. Buguzi discusses his digital initiative, MwanaSayansi, a Kiswahili science news portal aimed at increasing access to science information for Tanzanians. Passionate about raising the profile of health journalism, Dr. Buguzi focuses on making complex scientific information understandable and engaging for the public, bridging the gap between science and everyday life.
In this segment, CivicSciTV’s Questions of the Day (QOTD) Program features Special Correspondent Stephanie Okeyo interviewing Dr. Syriacus Buguzi, a doctor, science journalist, and co-founder of Research Com. Dr. Buguzi discusses his digital initiative, MwanaSayansi, a Kiswahili science news portal aimed at increasing access to science information for Tanzanians. Passionate about raising the profile of health journalism, Dr. Buguzi focuses on making complex scientific information understandable and engaging for the public, bridging the gap between science and everyday life. Dr. Buguzi emphasizes, “Making science accessible in native languages is crucial for fostering a scientifically informed society.” For science communicators, Dr. Buguzi highlights the importance of translating scientific information into native languages to improve accessibility. He encourages journalists and content creators to utilize digital platforms to reach a wider audience and advises scientists to simplify complex scientific concepts to make them more understandable for the general public. Additionally, he recommends engaging with local communities to identify their specific informational needs and tailor content accordingly. Dr. Buguzi has contributed to notable outlets such as The Citizen, Nature Africa, The Conversation Africa, SciDev.Net, Inter Press Service (IPS), GAVI, Lancet, and Wired UK.
In this segment, CivicSciTV's Questions of the Day Host Fanuel Muindi talks with IIyana Sawka, the Outreach and Communications Manager for LabXchange which is "a global science classroom that is open to every curious mind." Sponsored by the Amgen Foundation, the platform supports educators and learners worldwide, facilitating collaboration and personalized STEM learning pathways. The discussion highlights LabXchange's rapid adaptation following its 2020 launch, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sawka shares insights into how the platform is meeting the diverse needs of educators globally, from those in resource-rich environments to those facing significant constraints.
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