From the lab to the classroom & beyond: Prof. Nannas shares insights from her science engagement

Fanuel Muindi interviews Dr. Natalie Nannas, Associate Professor of Biology at Hamilton College, about her work integrating the basic research she conducts around how genetic information is packaged within chromosomes, and doing public engagement. Dr. Nannas explains that her engagement work began during college and now involves students in hands-on research, teaching them to communicate scientific ideas to wider audiences. She adds that an important aspect of her research and teaching is asking students to take the knowledge they have gained and engage a broader audience.

During the pandemic, she launched the SciKids Network on YouTube to provide kids with accessible science activities they can do at home. She shares that students often find science communication both challenging and rewarding. When asked about measuring impact, Dr. Nannas reflects on the challenge of tracking outreach success, noting, ‘I think it will be important to have metrics by which we can measure what is our reach, what is our impact… ways that we could then pivot to be more impactful.’ Looking ahead, she hopes to expand the channel’s STEM content and collaborate with other educators to broaden its reach.

Chapters

0:00 CivicSciTV Intro

0:35 Meet Dr. Nannas

1:55 Discovering Genetics

3:25 Engagement roots

5:10 NSF grant

8:42 Science outreach

9:07 Measuring impact

11:04 SciKids Network

13:14 Student feedback

16:25 SciKids audience

17:18 Channel goals

18:47 Community support

22:35 Needed support

24:28 Advice to faculty

25:26 Advice to students

26:30 Setting goals

27:27 Civic science future

Fanuel Muindi

Fanuel Muindi is a former neuroscientist turned civic science scholar-journalist and entrepreneur. He is a Professor of Practice in 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.

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