Science + Art appreciators, we need your help! We're working with the E. Kensington Neighbors Assn & H.A Brown school to create a community-driven mural on the biodiversity of our Philly neighborhood! We need your help to fund this project givebutter.com/KenzoMural Here's why this is important ⬇️

I just donated--if you love @skypeascientist.bsky.social , elementary schools, art or kids, join me! 🧪

For those looking to break in to science communication this could be a good place to start e to start. wendybohon.com/2022/03/30/b...

For those looking for a deep dive into Science Communication I recommend this publication from the NASEM. www.nationalacademies.org/projects/DBA...

Communication, and scicomm more broadly, is also a field of study where scholars examine how scientific knowledge and understanding moves between experts, policymakers, media, and various public audiences. (This is a gross oversimplification)

Communicators also need significant subject matter expertise. Simplifying complex concepts is hard, especially if you don’t understand them well. As Einstein said “If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.” It’s also easy to introduce damaging misconceptions.

Science communication is a skill that can be learned and improves with practice. To effectively communicate you need to be able to translate complex information into clear language, understand different audiences and adapt messaging appropriately, use storytelling, and more.

Clear communication builds trust, reduces misinformation, and supports evidence-based policy. It also strengthens scientific literacy, encourages critical thinking, and can inspire future scientists.

This seems like a great moment to talk about the importance of science communication! Science communication matters because it connects scientific research with people, giving folks information they need to make informed decisions about everything from health to hazards.

OPINION: Pathways for future scientists are becoming scarce, threatening a strong and innovative workforce When I was 17, I didn’t know a single scientist. I did not grow up around labs, research universities or people who talked about things like “STEM pathways.” The only reason I am a scientist…

AGAIN FOR THOSE IN THE BACK

Please take a moment to read this incredible OpEd by @jpflores.rbind.io in @hechingerreport.org. Here JP highlights why we need more science in more places. My undergrad research experience at @boisestate.bsky.social was pivotal for getting where I am today, and more people need access to it!

Check out my latest piece in @hechingerreport.org ! First of many as an OpEd Project Public Voices Fellow

So happy to welcome @snapcoalition.bsky.social member @meggarcia5.bsky.social to Bluesky! You can find Megan and many other SNAPpers and their #SciPol orgs here: go.bsky.app/HjpXQp5

For those who don't know, Kensington has overwhelming rates of poverty, crime, homelessness, and drug abuse. Please contribute to making it at least a little more joyful for the children and community there. #Philly #Science #Art #Philadelphia #Kensington

Philly people, pull up for an incredible project! 👇 #sciart #philadelphia

Alright bsky science + art community, I need your help. I was p confident we could get a grant to fund our upcoming biodiversity mural in Kensington. Last night, they called to say our partner school is 2 blocks outside of their service area. But ya know what? We're gonna do it anyway.

When you still pander to a man who PLEAD GUILTY to heinous crimes in ‘08, what does that say to survivors who have been denied justice? Why would they ever feel safe when not just one person, but the entire community looks the truth in the face and decides it doesn’t matter? Is that worth a check?

Here’s why this matters: 80% of sexual assaults go unreported because of r*pe culture, where even when people KNOW the truth, they decide it’s not important enough to change anything. We owe it to the survivors in the scientific community to reverse this behavior that has persisted for far too long.

"Scientists are not alone in working toward increasing trust in science, we have teachers, librarians, and many others with us." Really important to remember this! @laurahelmuth.bsky.social and others sharing thoughts on public trust in science at #AAASmtg

@snapcoalition.bsky.social is the most wonderful and inspirational group of graduate students and we are so beyond grateful to be a part of the SNAP community! #AAASmtg

"As Penn’s graduate student union finalizes preparations for a potential strike on Feb. 17, support from local politicians, faculty members, and undergraduate students has intensified." www.thedp.com/article/2026...

So happy to welcome @snapcoalition.bsky.social member @erin-cullinane.bsky.social to Bluesky! You can find Erin and many other SNAPpers and their #SciPol orgs here go.bsky.app/HjpXQp5

This. SNAP was incredible and gives me hope for the future of scientific organizations. The fact that #ECRs were the only ones to walk out of the plenary is telling as well. #AAASmtg #AAAS2026

What gets me is that those of us early-career researchers and advocates who presented there didn’t know, and how comfortable they are undermining the work we did to be there by platforming a pedophile apologist in the same breath.

Unacceptable @aaas.org! Time for a clear statement about how “good scientists” don’t associate with famous pedophiles, perhaps? This speaker should apologize too.

No acknowledgment of why Brian Greene, a known associate of Jeffery Epstein, was removed from a @aaas.org plenary discussion at #AAASmtg #AAAS2026 is egregious. The insult to injury? Listening to his replacement say he ‘wishes he was listening to Greene present as well’.

To be clear, Greene socialized with Epstein several years after he plead guilty to egregious crimes in 2008. He has claimed that he was seeking donations from Epstein. It’s time to stop tolerating evil to secure financial support in science, and I only wish AAAS had the courage to lead.

As always, the most courageous in the room are young people so thank you to student journalists at Columbia for being the only outlet to cover Greene’s self-made fall from grace. www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2026/02...

It is beyond insulting for @aaas.org to plan to host Brian Greene, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein, for a plenary talk at #AAAS2026, then cancel it the day before, only for the replacement to insist Greene was a “good scientist” and that he wished we could all hear from him.

First up, the SNAP coalition of grad students & early career researchers, which grew out of last year's #aaasmtg, is on fire. lots of great ideas about how to scale local efforts to communicate & advocate (2/7) snapcoalition.org

That Early Career Rsearcher panel at the end of #AAASmtg was NOT it. Really displeased and frustrated. @aaas.org please read the evals on this particular session. #EarlyCareerResearchers

Great first day at the @aaas.org annual meeting yesterday! Exciting to see @erinmorrow.bsky.social, Dana Center Initiative trainee from UCLA/CDU, as part of this plenary lecture. #neurosociety #AAASmtg

I’m working the booth tomorrow morning from 9-11 am. Come by and say hi! 👋 #AAASmtg #EarlyCareerResearchers

What's next for SNAP: snapcoalition.org/initiatives/... (still need leaders in 15 states). Open-access #SciPol course. SciPolicy hack-a-thon. Reception tonight at 8 to learn more @AAASmtg. "The future of science will come from people in this room..."

“Let’s not forget that the house is on fire”—we can talk as academics about public mistrust in higher education and science, but it’s not a solution. “What is the actionable thing you can do right after this meeting at your home institution?” #SciPol #StandUpForScience #AAASmtg

Moderator @holdenthorp.bsky.social notes that “it’s only taken 178 years” for @AAASmtg to have a plenary with grad students! SNAP was started last year at #AAASmtg and now is 200 grad students strong, advocating for science. #SciPol As one panelist put it, “we’re meeting the moment” in science.

Excitement palpable for @AAASmtg plenary with SNAP (Scientist Network for Advancing Policy), 200+ grad students representing 20 institutions in the U.S. #SciPol

For the first time in almost 180 years, the #AAASmtg plenary was given by graduate students! Long overdue 👏 So inspired by these young scientists in the @snapcoalition.bsky.social! Check them out: snapcoalition.org Moderated by @holdenthorp.bsky.social #AAAS2026 @aaas.org

✨ Film: A Century After Nanook and the Scaling of Inuit Resilience and Knowledge ✨ AAAS Cross-disciplinary Mentorship & Speed Networking Session ✨ Panel discussion Indigenizing Conservation Science and Restoration: Collaborative Perspectives from Brazil ✨ Plenary ft. @snapcoalition.bsky.social

Excited for today's plenary woth @jpflores.rbind.io @mjarnett.bsky.social @isakoditomassi.bsky.social @erinmorrow.bsky.social and Alex Rich! #AAASmtg

Better late than never, but let’s not go another 180 years without including a huge core of the AAAS demographic. #AAASmtg #AAAS2026

Can’t be at the AAAS Annual Meeting this year? Tune live to the plenary with @snapcoalition.bsky.social! www.youtube.com/live/0m_RvWn...

SNAPper Shreya Venkatesh shared info at the ESEP Townhall at #AAAS2026 about the exciting things SNAP is doing here! Come join us! #AAASmtg #ECRs #SciPol

Fabulous #AAASmtg plenary introduction from Dr. Michael Crow, Arizona State University President, reminding us that scientific discovery does not automatically translate. The gap between scientific discovery and public understanding expands. Science requires advocates. Storytelling must disrupt. 🧪

Happy @aaas.org eve to all who celebrate 🎊 #AAASmtg #AAAS2026

Meet some of the coolest people I know - SNAPers @snapcoalition.bsky.social’s blog “Science Policy in a SNAP” will do member features through the year. Today we’re highlighting @bdavisbio.bsky.social, @ashyeneng.bsky.social, & @brycewedig.bsky.social

Seriously - listen to some SNAPers talk about @snapcoalition.bsky.social and then pull up to our #ECRs reception. RSVP for the reception here: forms.gle/8AQkJAtHoqvC... #AAASmtg #AAAS2026

@researchamerica.bsky.social is honoring the McClintock Letters Initiative a "Meeting the Moment" award: www.researchamerica.org/advocacy-awa... We are so grateful to all of the participants of the #McClintockLetters! @snapcoalition.bsky.social and @cornellasap.bsky.social really crushed it!

Becca Blyn and I co-wrote a piece for Science Policy in a SNAP (the @snapcoalition.bsky.social awesome blog on Medium). Medium only lets you have 1 “author” which is silly. Becca and I hope you enjoy, reflect on today, and learn something new!