Outreach
Science Communication and Outreach Activities
Science on Tap New River Valley
From 2022-2026, I was part of a collaborative team that organizes monthly science outreach talks at a local brewery. We recruited speakers from Virginia Tech and the local community to give hour-long, informal, accessible presentations about their research or specialty. My duties included contacting speakers, working with them to prepare their presentation, setting up and coordinating events, and creating advertising materials.
Letters to a Pre-Scientist
Since 2022, I have participated in the Letters to a Pre-Scientist program to inspire kids to consider a career in STEM. Each cycle, I'm paired with a middle schooler who has similar science interests and we write letters back and forth throughout the school year. I provide some info on my life as a scientist and my higher education journey, and the student is free to ask any questions they might have. The program is an absolute blast and I am always looking forward to my next letter.
Outreach with the C & O Canal Trust
In winter 2024, I designed and led programming to share the geology of C & O Canal National Historical Park with its visitors. First, I delivered a virtual lecture describing the geologic context of the area and time period, showcasing some rock samples from our research, and emphasizing our most important conclusions. Then, I led many of the same participants on a guided hike along the outcrop. We walked forward in time throughout the section and I pointed out features in the rocks that we had talked about during the lecture.
GS(art)S: A SciComm Art Initiative
Each year, the Geosciences Department at Virginia Tech hosts an internal research symposium called GSRS. In 2022, some friends and I piloted a new initiative showcasing art as a science communication tool. I led the team as we solicited geoscience-themed art from students in the department and displayed them on a gallery wall during GSRS. We also awarded prizes for the best pieces (as decided by GSRS attendees). We followed up the GSRS exhibition by creating a permanent display in the Department. The program has continued every year since its inception.