Science Communication

Award-winning science communication. 

My style of science communication infuses biology with pop culture and has been recognized with multiple awards and honors. Read about some of my recent sci-comm  below. 

SABER Social Media

I actively manage the Twitter account for the Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research (SABER).  My role involves highlighting the research and achievements of the members of the biology education community. 

Twitter

DBER-SiT Outreach

I was on the Outreach Committee for the Discipline-Based Education Research - Scholars-in-Training (DBER-SiT) organization from September 2023 to September 2024. My responsibilities in this role included managing the DBER-SiT website and Twitter account. In this role, I was also responsible for organizing community-building events for early career education researchers, such as weekly opportunities to engage with the DBER community using Discord.

Twitter

Nerd Nite

Nerd Nite is a series of fun-yet-informative talks geared towards a general audience.  From August 2021 to May 2023, I organized and hosted monthly Nerd Nite events in Lincoln, NE.  I was also a frequent Nerd Nite presenter, and I've put together talks on the statistics of Keanu Reeves' filmography, Amish Newspapers as a form of social media, and David Bowie's eclectic acting career.

Find Nerd Nite - Lincoln on
Twitter and Facebook 

TwitterFacebook

University of Nebraska Science Slam 

I won the inaugural University of Nebraska systemwide Science Slam competition. My Slam highlights that the tests and exams in undergraduate biology were not far different before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is a null result with significant implications! I celebrate the challenges that biology instructors tackled during COVID with a take on a Talking Heads song. My Slam starts around 47 minutes into the recording. 

Nebraska Science Olympiad

I was invited as a keynote speaker for the Nebraska Science Olympiad Tournament in April 2023.  I talked about how my path into a science career was shaped by my interest in sharks and I highlighted current research in shark science across biology, chemistry, physics, and math disciplines.  

SciComm Science Slam 2022

I won the inaugural Science Slam competition at the SciComm Conference. In my Slam, I talk (and sing!) about how the challenges I faced as a high school science teacher inform my current work as an education researcher.  You can watch my education-themed parody of "Super Freak" in my Slam starting at 1:05 in the video or can read about it in the article here

SciComm Conference

I have been involved with planning committees for  the biannual Science Communication (SciComm) conference at UNL in 2020 and 2022.  I have also participated in the conference as both a short-talk presenter and a competitor in the SciComm Science Slam.

Click here for more information about the SciComm Conference. 

UNL Science Slam

In the Science Slam, I talk about how we need to rethink our science assessments and "put tests to the test."  The questions used on the tests in STEM courses often focus on memorization, and this approach to testing is more than a little problematic! I share my struggles with testing as both a student and as a teacher and discuss how my struggles led to my path of studying assessments as a discipline-based education researcher.

She's a Scientist

I was interviewed for UNL's She's a Scientist series.  I talk about my participation in the Science Slam and my work studying assessments in biology. This segment aired on the local news station in Lincoln, NE. 



Necessary Symbiosis

I contributed a quote to Vyshnavi Karra's timely book Necessary Symbiosis: What Happens When Science and Government Work Together (and When They Don't).  I briefly discuss how assessments in science courses can be used to make data-informed decisions about science education.  It was great to contribute a small part to an excellent work of science communication!



Find Necessary Symbiosis on Amazon

Countdown to the Moon

I was interviewed for the Countdown to the Moon project. I talk about how I got into science, why it's important to have role models in STEM, and share my love for a moon-inspired Talking Heads song