Archives for 2025

Want to skip right to the survey? Click here! (Must be at least 18 years old and have graduated or be close to graduation from a US academic institution in chemistry or a closely related field.) Every time I go back to Wisconsin to visit my family, I get asked the same questions: “So, how is your […]

In my ten years at the bench prior to joining The Kavli Foundation’s Science and Society team, I frequently found myself drawn toward opportunities to share my science, as I expect many of you are as well. As someone who, more often than not, was working on basic science projects, I struggled to find the […]

How fluorescent gels, pipette ASMR, and TikTok trends are reshaping science communication A few years ago, “lab life” meant late nights with broken centrifuges, mismatched gloves, and postdoc-fueled existential dread. Now? It’s neon gels synced to Taylor Swift, pipette clicks as ASMR, and scientists lip-syncing while explaining CRISPR. Welcome to the age of “aesthetic science”, […]

Let me paint a familiar picture: You’ve just published a shiny new explainer on a “breakthrough” study. You’ve broken down the jargon, added some metaphors, maybe even dropped a Taylor Swift reference for flavor. You’re feeling good. People are liking, sharing, and learning Then, like an unwelcome plot twist, months or years later, you find […]

It’s been a scary few months for science. If you’re anything like me, you’ve alternated between doom-scrolling, calling your representatives, and trying to keep experiments going, all while wondering if your lab will still be funded in a year. I read a new headline every day: NIH indirect cuts that will decimate research funds, pauses […]

When we are discussing something controversial or otherwise difficult like vaccines, it can be challenging to know where to begin. Emotion, culture, context, past experiences, among many other factors, can play a part in this. It can also depend on what one is attempting to achieve with a discussion. Are you trying to change the […]

Publication Details: Why I Chose This Paper: Understanding public trust in scientists is crucial for science communicators. This paper offers a large-scale, global perspective on trust dynamics, providing actionable insights to enhance engagement and address skepticism. The Larger Issue: Trust in Science Public trust in scientists is essential for effective decision-making and policy implementation to […]