ASC Mentorship Program: Introducing a 2026 Mentor-Mentee Pair
We sat down to interview Matteo Farinella and Cord Lopez, participants in the ASC Mentorship Program, to get their perspectives on mentorship and SciComm.
Why do you think mentorship in SciComm is important?
Matteo: Like many science communicators, I never received any formal training. It was just something I became interested in during my scientific studies and had to learn mostly by trial-and-error. I was lucky to have the time and resources to do that, but otherwise it can be very challenging to get started in this field. I hope that the Mentorship Program can lower the barrier for entry, and encourage more people (not strictly scientists) to choose this career.
What has been a surprising or unexpected thing you’ve learned from your mentee?
Matteo: When I signed up I was expecting to work with someone with somewhat similar interests. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Cord is already an experienced artist and designer who, for a variety of reasons, is interested in working with scientific institutions. I think this is extremely valuable, because we always need fresh perspectives on visualizing science for wide audiences.
If you could give just one piece of advice to early career professionals in this field, what would it be?
Matteo: My first piece of advice is simply to assign yourself projects and just get started; don’t wait for permission or commissions. There is often an expectation that you need to be an “expert” in order to talk about science. And to some degree it’s true that you need understand the subject matter – but the goal here is not to write a textbook. The goal is to reach beyond traditional scientific audiences, so don’t get too stuck on research. Secondly, look at what more experienced communicators are doing but don’t feel like you need to replicate it exactly. Figure out what resonates with you, and what doesn’t, and don’t be afraid to try out new things or different formats. I believe there is no single ”right” way to do science communication, simply because there is not just one audience.
Why did you want to participate in this program?
Cord: When I was a kid I helped foster animals from all walks of life. I had a collection of rocks and loved drawing comics. Naturally, I wanted to combine my love of visual storytelling with my appreciation for animals and nature.
What has been a surprising or unexpected thing you’ve learned from your mentor?
Cord: From the first few months with Matteo, I received invaluable advice on my resume and a safe place to voice any ideas or questions about my mentorship.
Who would you recommend this program to?
Cord: I would definitely recommend this program to anyone wanting to make a positive impact with their craft, no matter what their age or stage in their careers.
