PLEASE NOTE: Scheduling with speakers, and confirmation of a few last final sessions are still in the works. Precise dates and times will be based on presenter availability and are still being determined, but will be posted soon.
Please note, programming is subject to change. Additional details coming soon.
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In-person short talks, keynotes, and panel sessions on March 26-27 will be live-streamed for virtual attendees to watch in real time (PDT). In-person workshops are not live streamed or recorded.
Virtual short talks, panel sessions and workshops will take place between March 2-20. All attendees will have access to virtual presentations. Virtual workshops are not recorded.
Workshop attendance, virtual or in-person, is first-come first-served. Maximum attendance for each workshop will be noted in the conference schedule when the full agenda is posted.
ALL keynote, short talk, and panel sessions will be available as recordings in the conference platform for 3 months following the conference.
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Announcing our 2026 Keynote Speakers
Dr. Raven Baxter
a.k.a.
Dr. Raven the Science Maven
Dr. Raven Baxter is a science communicator, consultant, and education leader empowering global scientific literacy. Her work operates at the intersection of research, public understanding, and institutional responsibility.
She leads efforts that align institutional structures, learning environments, and public-facing responsbility to cultivate scientific and academic leadership across generations.
Renée DiResta
Renée DiResta is an online information researcher, author, and Associate Research Professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown.
She studies the many ways that people attempt to manipulate, harass, or target others online. Her work focuses on rumors and propaganda, and in understanding how narratives spread across social and media networks. She researches novel and rapidly-developing problems, then communicates findings both to the public and to those best positioned to mitigate them.
In addition to the annual open-mic Rapid Pitch session, a SciComm Poster & Art session + evening reception, numerous networking opportunities, & more… presenting the:
2026 In-Person Program (schedule TBD)
Short Talks:
- AI in Science Communication – Hype or Hope?
- Amrita A. Iyer (Tempus AI, Inc.)
- Blue Collar White Coat: Reinforcing trust by telling the human stories behind science
- Amy Weldon (Blue Collar White Coat Podcast)
- Building a Bridge across the Rural Ridge
- Bailey C. Sarka (Stellate Communications)
- Cosmos, Chemistry, and Communication: Lessons from History for the Future
- Kate Biberdorf (Kate the Chemist) (University of Notre Dame)
- DisabledInSTEM: Reclaiming Narrative Power in Science Communication
- Alyssa Paparella (DisabledInSTEM)
- From Tea to Telepathy: Using Probability to Test the Impossible.
- Jakob Oetinger (University of Montana)
- How I got 25 million people to watch a movie about a science they reject
- Brian Dunning (Skeptoid Media)
- More Than Data: Empathy & Humility Are Needed in the Science Conversation
- Kay E. Nisbett (Mitis Ascensio Inc)
- Museums as a Bridge: How Museums Connect Experts and the Public
- Bethany Trang & Marci Howdyshell (Center of Science and Industry (COSI))
- Reading the Room: Fresh Insights on Public Perceptions of Science
- Eve Klein (Association of Science and Technology Centers)
- Science-in-Action Film Storytelling Increasing Public Trust in Science
- Dena K. Seidel & Xenia Morin (Rutgers University)
- Science Cafes: Why They are Important and What We Can Do Better
- Will Freund (Will Freund Media)
- Science communication in a divided world: preparing the next generation to bridge the gap
- M. Elizabeth Barnes (Middle Tennessee State University)
- Science, Creativity, and Words: Bridging the STEM vs Humanities Divide
- Brianna Traxinger (Bristol Myers Squibb / freelance)
- Seeing is Believing? AI, Visual Storytelling, and Trust in Science
- Nicolle Fuller (Sayo Studio)
- Seriously Funny: Using Humor and Storytelling for Science Communication
- Sarah Adelman (Freelance)
- The Art of Not Putting People to Sleep: A Discussion About Refining SciComm Techniques
- Hever Velázquez (Self-Employed) & Shreya Pramanik (Oregon State University)
- The Business Case for Science Communication: Storytelling ROI Across Sectors
- Dexter Ellis (Arcadis)
- Understanding and Addressing Exposures to Inaccurate Information
- David N. Rapp (Northwestern University)
- Using Counternarratives to Reroute Anti-Science Conspiracy Theories
- Roy Schwartzman (North Carolina State University) & Susan Jasko (Alabama Transportation Institute, University of Alabama)
Workshops:
- Beyond Communication: How to (Actually) Build Relationships in Your SciComm Setting
- Anjana V. Nair (Columbia University Medical Center)
- Building Emotional Resilience Around the Tough Topics
- Julia Pinnix (Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Complex, US Fish and Wildlife Service)
- Fail Better: Turning SciComm Missteps into Data for the Next Decade
- Kisha Greer & Madeline Corrigan (Syneos Health Communications)
- Gamifying Science: Explaining Complex Scientific Concepts Through Play
- Corinne Campbell, Katie Brady & Danny Ryerson (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)
- Laugh, Learn, and Shimmy: Science Communication with a Tease
- Dr. Pamela Pelletier (Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research and Queerd Science Productions), Valerie Bentivegna (Geeky Comedy Seattle), Sky Hatter (graphic designer, ASC) & Justice Morath (Salt Lake Community College)
- Speaking Without Words: What you’re saying through what’s unsaid
- Sydney Floryanzia & Samantha Borje (Engage – University of Washington)
- The Room Where It Happened: Facilitating High-Stakes Science Communication
- Brittany St.Jacques & Lisa Kisner (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
- The Science of AI, The Human Art of Communication
- Melissa Hiatt, Jessica Mkitarian, Liz Perotti & Heather Heenehan (NOAA Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Program and Ocean Acidification Program (contracted by UCAR))
Panel Discussions:
Is There Still a Case for Optimism in Science Communication?
The world of science communication is often dominated by crises like climate change, pollution, habitat loss, and more. Can optimism in communication be realistic, feasible, or even warranted? In this panel, we will examine the role of hope, psychological impact of existential threats, the cultural and political context, and whether highlighting victories can shape engagement and whether optimistic science communication is truly possible.
- Craig R. McClain (University of Louisiana at Lafayette)
- Andrew Thaler (Blackbeard Biologic)
- John C. Besley (Michigan State University)
- Naomi Farabaugh (University of Washington)
- Tamara Poles (Universal SciCom)
Rebuilding Trust in Science and Safety Science
The communications landscape is changing rapidly, and the science community must embrace it if it wants to restore trust in science and safety science. To rebuild this trust, ethical and strategic communication is essential. This discussion will focus on how together we must keep up with the new ways people get their information, be mindful of language used that can potentially erode trust and how we can utilize tools like AI to help science organizations and scientists tell their story.
- Kristen Delphos (UL Research Institutes)
- Bert Kelly (UL Research Institutes)
- Steve Sobie (USGS Geological Survey)
- Additional panelists will be announced soon
Scientist Network for Advancing Policy (SNAP): Mobilizing early career researchers for large-scale nationwide initiatives
SNAP panelists will share lessons from organizing national initiatives that connect policymakers, researchers, and communities. They’ve mobilized scientists in 45 states to share their work in local papers, trained peers to advocate for research funding in Congress, launched Stance on Science to engage political candidates, and are developing a 4-part science policy curriculum. Through these opportunities, SNAP is empowering scientists to create accessible avenues of public engagement.
- Emily Selland (University of Notre Dame)
- Emma Scales (Cornell University)
- Sneha Rao (University of California San Francisco)
- Alex Lando (Cornell University)
- David Ramotowski (University of Iowa)
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2026 Virtual Program (schedule TBD)
Short Talks:
- Talking About Life in the Universe
- Chris Impey (University of Arizona)
- The Art and Science of Data Visulization
- Adam Korengold (National Library of Medicine and the Maryland Institute College of Art)
- Questions Are the Answer: How Curiosity Connects Science and Society
- Breana Turner (Virginia Tech)
- Science on Your Wavelength
- Ramon David V. Castañeda (Ologist)
- Connecting Communities with Science: Role Models & Inclusive Science Communication
- Christine Douglass (Heriot-Watt University)
- Communicating Science for People with Disabilities: What can we learn from the Fiocruz Museum of Life in Brazil?
- Ana Carolina Alves Vicente (MCCAC Research Group)
- 3D Storytelling for Climate & Mathematical Physics Communication
- Chand John (Austin Texas Science Communicators)
- Lost in the Folders: Wayfinding Toward Living Data and Shared Science
- Samia Tasmim (Women In Bio Chicago)
Workshops:
- Finding Your Niche in Science Communication
- Sarah Sunu (COMPASS Science Communication)
- Story Coaching for Scientists
- Erin Barker (Story Collider)
- Putting into Practice the Principles of Effective Climate Change Communication
- Scott Hershberger (University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension)
- How To (And Should You?) Launch A Podcast
- Lindsay Smith Rogers (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health) & Kathryn Dugal (Tradeoffs podcast)
Panel discussions:
Bridging the gap between academia and the public: how to get more scientists communicating their research beyond the bench
The goal of this panel is to start a discussion about how to get more academic scientists trained in science communication. The panel will include past and present academic scientists engaged in teaching or actively presenting science communication to academics. More information to come!
- Chloe Christina Kirk (@chloe.the.scientist)
- Additional panelists will be announced soon
Other panels will include discussions from the Sci Fund Challenge on fundraising, and we’ll also hear from participants of the Association of Science Communicators (ASC) Mentorship Program and learn about their thoughts, reflections, and projects completed during the program. More information to come!
