ComSciCon-Houston 2024

ComSciCon Houston is a science communication conference aimed towards enhancing graduate students’ skills and confidence in communicating science to diverse audiences. The conference provides a forum for sharing ideas about science communication, a classroom for personal growth, and a place for the like-minded to meet and network.

Our 2024 conference will build on the successes of the last eight years. During past events, graduate students and postdocs engaged with experts in science writing, science policy, and multimedia science communication — as well as each other — to develop their ability to communicate their research to a broad audience. ComSciCon Houston hosts attendees from over a dozen institutions, including BCM, Rice, UT, A&M, TSU, and UH.

This year’s theme will be “Community of Science”, with workshops focused on engaging diverse communities, adapting skills for career transitions, and using multimedia to explain science.

Please contact houston@comscicon.org with any questions.

Invited Experts

We are excited to announced the invited science communication experts for our 2024 conference. Check back soon for more info and bios!

Keynote Speaker:

Erin Winick Anthony:

Erin’s passion is showing the creativity in science and engineering. From social media videos to maker projects that combine fashion and engineering, she is working to find accessible ways to engage audiences with complex technical topics. With more than 9 years’ experience working as a science communicator at institutions such as NASA and MIT, Erin founded her own science communication company, STEAM Power Media, in 2023. She just returned from serving as an onboard outreach officer for the JOIDES Resolution Expedition 401, a 2-month ocean expedition studying the geology of the Mediterranean. At NASA she led the 2-year project to revamp the International Space Station Benefits for Humanity initiative, contributing to station’s extension to 2030. She is a recipient of NASA’s Silver Snoopy, one of the highest awards given by the agency. She has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida, an extensive list of freelance science communication clients, and a social media following of more than 70K to whom she shares science, space, and maker content. In her free time, you can find her playing pinball, 3D printing, hiking, or scrolling through TikTok.

Virtual Speaker:

Patricia Bondia:

Patricia Bondia is a visual scientific communicator dedicated to bridging the gap between scientists and their audiences. She combines her scientific background with illustration and animation skills. While she was working in the lab as a PhD student, she discovered the power of visuals for scientific communication. Creating them became a passion, which she transformed into professional expertise. Now, she uses these tools to help scientists make their work stand out.

Community of Science Panel:

Jaime González:

Jaime González is an interdisciplinary conservationist, environmental educator, and network weaver who works to better ensure that the practice and benefits of conservation are more equitable and inclusive in Texas communities, including Greater Houston. This includes providing better access to conserved lands, engaging the public in community science and conservation opportunities, supporting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) initiatives within the TNC-Texas Chapter, and contributing to policy development. Mr. González also is a member of TNC-Texas’s Climate Team, working with local communities, governments, corporations, health professionals, and other nonprofit partners, to co-create healthier, climate ready, and wildlife-rich places using nature-based solutions. Lastly, Jaime also serves as the vice chair of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), which sets national standards for environmental education excellence. Mr. González earned a M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction-Science Education and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Houston. He has also earned certificates in civic ecology/environmental education, environmental communications, and climate change and health from Cornell, Duke, and Yale Universities respectively. He is currently completing a One Health professional certificate from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

Dr. Kathryn Kundrod:

Kathryn Kundrod, PhD, MPH is a Cancer Prevention Fellow at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, where her research is focused on increasing access to cervical cancer screening. Through her fellowship, Dr. Kundrod is currently on rotation with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), where serves as Senior Advisor for Cancer Moonshot Policy Coordination. In this role, she leads federal coordination across the first-ever Cancer Cabinet, a government-wide effort making progress against cancer, and leads cancer prevention and early detection activities for the Biden Cancer Moonshot. Prior to joining NCI, Dr. Kundrod completed a PhD and postdoctoral fellowship in bioengineering at Rice University. During her training, she developed point-of-care HPV tests for early cervical cancer detection in resource-limited settings. Dr. Kundrod also earned a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Sriparna Saha

Monica Unseld:

Monica E. Unseld was born and raised in Louisville, KY and has roots in Huntsville, Alabama. Growing up, her parents encouraged her curiosity with frequent trips to the library, at-home science experiments, and even sacrificing the dining room for her “lab.” Monica was allowed to use the bathtub and kitchen appliances as she explored her world. She also learned from her family members the importance of justice work. Monica obtained her doctorate in biology in 2008 from the University of Louisville and her Master’s in Public Health from Benedictine University in 2018. Her physical training is in endocrine disruption and environmental signaling. During graduate school, Monica was introduced to the field of environmental justice, and she has worked with grassroots environmental justice groups nationwide for over a decade, including the Greater Louisville Project. Monica blends her knowledge and passion for research and data to help uplift community researchers and increase justice-based partnerships with Academia and various communities. This work helps community partners challenge existing narratives about them by assisting them in collecting and creating messaging around the data.

Communicating to Diverse Audiences Panel:

Jasmine Drake:

Jasmine Drake, Ph.D. of Houston is an associate professor, Laboratory Coordinator in the Forensic Science Learning Laboratory, and the Interim Chair of the Department of Administration of Justice in the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University. Dr. Drake currently serves as a Governor-appointed commissioner for the Texas Forensic Science Commission. Dr. Drake is also a research fellow at the Center for Justice Research at TSU. Previously, she served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Forensic Science in the College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University. Additionally, she has served as a forensic chemist at the Drug Enforcement Administration South Central Laboratory in Dallas and as a National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research in Gaithersburg, MD. She is currently a Criminalistics section member for the American Academy of Forensic Science. Drake received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, LA and a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry from Louisiana State University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, LA.

Dr. Ágnes Mócsy:

Dr. Ágnes Mócsy (pronounced Agh-nesh) is a Brooklyn-based Transylvanian Hungarian-American documentary filmmaker, professor, and theoretical physicist. Rooted in a successful career as physicist Ágnes shifted her efforts merging her world of research with her love of the arts and started the pursuit of exploring the interconnectedness of science, the arts, and social justice. She developed and taught courses with non-traditional ways of approaching physics. She is the producer and performer of a large variety of science communication shows, and also known for her work as advocate for diversity and inclusivity in the sciences and beyond. Ágnes is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, and Fellow at Yale University. Currently, on leave from her faculty position at the Pratt Institute, she is visiting faculty at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University, directing, producing, and writing her next documentary film Rare Connections. Previously, Ágnes held positions at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark, at the Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, at Brookhaven National Laboratory, NY, and held visiting appointments at École Polytechnique and CEA Saclay in Paris, France and at Wright Lab/Physics Department at Yale University.

Becky Seabrook:

Becky Seabrook has over 20 years of experience in non-profit and museum management, program design, and science education across a variety of formats including formal education in a classroom setting. However, it was a part-time museum educator position in 2002 that sparked a long-term passion for informal learning spaces and their potential for creating collaborative, innovative, and memorable experiences. She currently serves as Senior Director of Guest Engagement at The Health Museum, a position that oversees education, exhibitions, strategic partnerships, and guest services. Her role includes the strategic development, implementation and evaluation of museum
experiences that inspire wonder and curiosity about health, medical science and the human body in the Greater Houston community and beyond.
Becky serves on the Executive Board of the American Leadership Forum – Gulf Coast Region and the National Association for Museum Exhibition (NAME). She has
presented at national and state conferences for the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), Association of Science & Technology Centers (ASTC), Visitor Studies Association (VSA), the Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching (CAST), and the Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance. Becky
graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and an M.S. in Biomechanics from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

Creata-A-Thon Facilitators:

Dr. Kyung-Hee Bae, Director, Center for Academic & Professional Communication @ Rice University

Lauren Kapcha, School of Natural Sciences Assistant Dean for Communications @ Rice University

Dr. Scott Solomon, Biosciences Professor and Science Communicator @ Rice University

Autumn Horne, Research Analysts and Former ComSciCon Houston Co-Chair @ Rice University

Dr. Ana Maria Rodriguez, Senior Science Writer and Editor @ Baylor College of Medicine

Workshop Program

8:30-9:00: Check-in and Breakfast

9:00-9:05: Opening Remarks

9:05-10:15: Community of Science Panel

10:15-11:30: Networking Musical Chairs

11:30-11:45: Break

11:45-12:45: Pop Talks

12:45-1:30: Lunch

1:30-1:55 : Virtual Speaker

2:00-3:15: Communication to Specific Audiences Panel

3:15-3:30: Break

3:30-4:30: Create-A-Thon

4:30-5:15: Keynote Speaker

5:15-5:45: Informal Networking Reception

5:45: Closing remarks/wrap-up

Organizers

Advisory Chairs:

Sarah Donofrio

Ashley Monahan

Organizing Committee:

Adebowale Alade

Diana Conrad

Saxton Fisher

Debadrita Jana

Alexis Wilkinson

Rice Faculty Advisor:

Kyung-Hee Bae

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect from ComSciCon 2024?

At ComSciCon Houston 2024, you can expect to learn practical science communication skills, learn about part-time and full-time careers in science communication, and network with others who are interested in science communication. You will hear from speakers and panelists who are expert science communicators in many different scientific fields. You will participate in interactive workshops where you will learn about science writing, scientific illustration, navigating social media, hosting equitable science communication events, and more. You will have the opportunity to get practice and feedback on scientific writing and speaking through the Create-A-Thon and pop talks.

Who can apply to ComSciCon Houston? Do I need to be a Rice University student?

Applicants must be STEM graduate students or postdocs, work in Houston or the greater Central Texas area, and have an interest in science communication. While the conference is held at Rice University, attendance is open to anyone in the Houston area.

Past ComSciCon conferences have had participants from a variety of Texas colleges and universities, including but not limited to the University of Texas at Austin, Baylor, Texas A&M University, the University of Houston, and MD Anderson.

What is the cost to attend the ComSciCon Houston 2024 Conference?

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we are able to host the ComSciCon Houston 2024 conference at no-cost to attendees. Participants will be provided with lunch and snacks during the conference, as well as a t-shirt.

What is a Create-A-Thon?

The purpose of the Create-A-Thon is to produce a piece of science communication about any scientific topic of interest. Pieces can be formatted as an essay (roughly 500 words), a short video, a podcast segment, an art piece, or any other media. Content can be about your own research or any other scientific topic of interest. Your intended audience for Create-A-Thon will be like the readers of local newspaper (e.g., the Houston Chronicle) who may have a college education but have no training in the scientific area that you are writing about.

During Create-A-Thon, experts and other ComSciCon peers will review and evaluate Create-A-Thon pieces in small groups to receive feedback and discuss strengths and weaknesses of submitted media. Please be sure bring a laptop computer if your media requires one.

What are pop talks?

Pop talks are short, oral descriptions of your research or another scientific topic of interest. They should be engaging and accessible for an audience who may have a college education but no training in the scientific area that you are speaking on. You will give your pop talk live for your peers and science communication experts and get feedback on how to make your talk even stronger. You can sign-up to be considered for a pop-talk in the conference application.

When is the deadline to apply for ComSciCon Houston 2024?

The application deadline is January 19, 2024 at 11:59 PM. Applicants can expect to receive decisions on attendance by January 31 through an email that will be sent to the email address used to complete the application.

Am I expected to attend the whole conference?

Yes, you are expected to attend the entirety of the conference on Saturday, February 17. We expect the conference to start at 9 AM and continue until 6 PM.

Will I be able to park on the Rice University campus?

Yes, parking will be free for participants. Once attendance is confirmed, a parking validation will be given to all attendees.

Have additional questions? Please reach out to houston@comscicon.org for more info!

Application

Applications are currently closed.

This year’s theme will be “Community of Science”, with workshops focused on engaging diverse communities, adapting skills for career transitions, and using multimedia to explain science.

ComSciCon Houston plans to host annual science communication conferences for graduate students, research assistants, and post-docs in Texas. Check back in the fall for info about our next conference!

ComSciCon-Houston 2024