Bio
Whether we think about it consciously or not, science is one of the strongest threads holding us together. It’s a part of everything that we do, touching every corner of our lives. As science communicators, it is our role to tell science stories that capture the attention and imagination of different communities, and hopefully demonstrate these connections that science has in their lives.
My name is Jessica, although people usually call me Jess, and I am a recent graduate from Florida International University (FIU) where I received my B.S. in Biological Sciences and my M.Sc. in Environmental Studies. Before starting my graduate program, I had the opportunity to work as a communications and outreach assistant for FIU’s College of Arts, Sciences, and Education, where I had my first “aha!” moment, realizing what had been missing from my path in the sciences. Learning more and more about science communication, I became curious about the science behind it. This inspired my research questions as a graduate student. As a part of my graduate program, I completed a research project measuring how familiar science communicators are with the latest science communication research and how they use it in their communication practice. I also helped propose a Graduate Certificate in Science Communication at FIU which I then completed myself as part of its first cohort and am now a committee member for. Throughout my graduate program I also worked full-time as a research coordinator for FIU’s Steven Cruz Institute for Media, Science + Technology, the University’s first science communication Institute. In my spare time, I like to take photos and play music.
I’m extremely grateful to the AAAS, the Dallas Morning News, and Heising-Simons Foundation for this opportunity. I’m honored to be a part of such an incredible cohort.
