Science Writing and Communication
With experience in advocacy journalism, grant writing, and publishing in peer-reviewed scientific journals, my ultimate goal is to become a science communicator who makes science understandable and accessible to the public. I aspire to remove misconceptions and barriers surrounding science, instilling confidence in its future.
Effective science communication is critical in building trust between the public and scientists. Unfortunately, graduate school often fails to adequately prepare students for this crucial skill. To bridge this gap, I organize science communication workshops for CUNY graduate trainees to create opportunities for proper training in graduate school.
ComSciCon 2023 Flagship Workshop
My visual science communication efforts have succeeded on online platforms like BioRender, where my scientific illustrations that simplify complex neuroimmunology concepts have been used over 3,000 times, engaging the public.
Visual Science Communication
Science Blogging
In addition to my work at CUNY, I'm actively involved with BraiNY, the Greater NYC Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience, an outreach group with a mission to foster engagement in neuroscience within local and global communities. Through BraiNY's blog (BraiNY Blog), I collaborate with authors, assisting them in crafting engaging blog content that brings the fascinating world of neuroscience to a broader audience.
See the BraiNY Blog articles I produced to communicate my research.
Science Communication Workshops
I co-founded a science communication organization at CUNY — Boosting Research Area Interactions in Neuroscience Engagement Hour (BrainE Hour).
BrainE Hour is a platform for graduate students engaged in STEM research at CUNY, facilitating the honing of science communication skills through various events. Our programming includes science communication workshops, voted guest speakers, and larger data blitz events. These programs allow students to transition from informal to formal science communication settings, including symposia and conferences. To prepare for blitz events, BrainE Hour hosts outside speakers for training on different strategies of science communication.
An experienced science communicator and writer taught the 2023 workshop, Dr. Denise Croote.
2023 BrainE Hour SciComm Workshop
NYU Science Writing Workshop
I had the privilege of participating in the Science Writing Workshop as part of NYU's Diverse Neuroscientists Doctoral Training Series. This workshop, led by the experienced science writer Dr. Kavya Devarakonda, enhanced students' technical writing skills, including narrative structure and grant writing. The overarching objective was to empower us to write precisely and clearly, effectively conveying scientific concepts to a broad and diverse audience.
The New York Academy of Sciences Global STEM Alliance
As a Senior Community Leader, I provide guidance and oversight to student communities within the Global STEM Alliance's Virtual High School Programs at The New York Academy of Sciences. I've taken the initiative to organize and host community-building activities for both students and mentors, while also introducing new activities and materials to enhance the virtual program.
One of my contributions includes creating a virtual research curriculum, teaching students about the peer review process, assessing the credibility of research articles, and effectively comprehending complex scientific publications.
Currently, I'm working with the Virtual High School Program Coordinators to launch a student-led STEM journal club series (SPARK) for Fall 2023. In this journal club series, students will receive mentors' coaching on communicating complex science research articles to their peers. This initiative aims to enrich research resources for students, facilitate networking opportunities with STEM mentors, and provide a platform for students to exchange scientific ideas and perspectives.