Endosymbiont CEO Radhika Patnala on increasing access through visualizing scientific discoveries

On CivicSciTV’s Questions of the Day, Fanuel Muindi interviews Dr. Radhika Patnala, Founder & CEO of Endosymbiont, to delve into her work at the intersection of science, art, and design. Patnala discusses how Endosymbiont helps biotech and academic clients navigate complex science communication challenges, stating, ‘everyone is trying to communicate their science better… visuals are the key.’

She explains the company’s dual focus: corporate science communication and public outreach work through her other company Sci-Illustrate with projects such as the ‘Women in Science’ series and ‘The League of Extraordinary Cell Types.’ Reflecting on the company’s growth, she notes, ‘We have processes that allow us to do really good work. Now, it’s about increasing the impact.’ Patnala also addresses challenges posed by AI in science communication and emphasizes the value of understanding client needs: ‘Clients told me what they needed, and I found a way to make it happen.’

Chapters

0:00 CivicSciTV Intro

0:18 About QOTD

0:36 Previously on QOTD

1:40 Radhika Patnala intro

4:03 Serving Diverse Clients

8:23 Public Outreach Projects

10:59 Becoming an Entrepreneur

14:33 Defining Impact

16:51 Global Client Base

19:42 Team Dynamics

22:10 Lessons for Entrepreneurs

25:30 Growth in Science Communication

26:12 AI: Threat or Asset?

29:38 Closing Thoughts

Learn about Endosymbiont

Fanuel Muindi

Fanuel Muindi is a former neuroscientist turned civic science ethnographer. He is a professor of the practice in the Department of Communication Studies within the College of Arts, Media, and Design at Northeastern University, where he leads the Civic Science Media Lab. Dr. Muindi received his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and PhD in Organismal Biology from Morehouse College and Stanford University, respectively. He completed his postdoctoral training at MIT.