Dope Labs podcast creators to host science communication workshops at Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Researchers looking to extend their science communication skills beyond traditional journalism have an opportunity to learn about new ways to interact with larger and more diverse audiences. Dope Labs Science Communication Week at Penn State aims to introduce researchers to the broader science communication community and teach them to use social media, storytelling and a web presence to network with other scientists and engage with broad audiences. The four-day remote event will take place Feb. 7-10.

The event, run by Dope Labs podcast creators and hosts Titi Shodiya and Zakiya Whatley, includes a one-hour broad interest session open to everyone at Penn State and four 1.5-hour workshops for up to 25 researchers. The Earth and Environmental Systems Institute; the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences; the EMS Energy Institute; and the college’s Department of Geosciences, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering are sponsoring the event.

“It’s important for scientists to get comfortable with multiple modes of communication, especially when engaging nonexpert audiences,” said Whatley. “Some surveys are reporting increased interest in the sciences and a more scientifically literate public as we collectively navigate this ongoing health crisis. My main goal is for participants to leave feeling like they have a toolkit full of resources when they are ready to share their work. I want them to feel confident about their ability to use a variety of approaches, so they’re prepared for almost anything.”

Registration for the free event is required. Participants will receive a Zoom link prior to the start of the sessions for which they have registered.

“As a College of Earth and Mineral Sciences alum, I know the power of graduating from this college,” said Shodiya, who in 2021 received the Alumni Achievement Award from the Penn State Alumni Association and gave the commencement address for the joint spring commencement ceremony for the College of Arts and Architecture, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, College of Nursing and Eberly College of Science.

“From graduate school and beyond, I have felt like I was always ahead of the game with respect to my peers because of the resources available in EMS and Penn State as a whole,” Shodiya said. “Science communication is a skill that is emerging as a critical aspect of career development. This is a skillset that is indispensable, especially in the current scientific climate. So my hope for folks attending this workshop is that they will leave with skills that will keep them on the cutting edge.”

About the presenters

Whatley is a scientist, educator and creative who believes in science education for all. Her efforts focus on broadening access to and persistence in STEM careers, with much of her work targeting populations that have been historically underrepresented in the sciences. She currently serves as a University of Maryland AGEP PROMISE mentor-in-residence. Prior to her current role, she was assistant director of the Biological Sciences Graduate Program in the College of Computer, Math, and Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland and assistant professor in the biology department at Gettysburg College. She earned her doctorate in genetics and genomics and cellular and molecular biology from Duke University.

Shodiya is a scientist, engineer, speaker, host, writer, pop culture expert, content creator and storyteller. Her work focuses on making scientific concepts more palatable for wider consumption. She currently serves as the deputy quality manager at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland, where she is responsible for facilitating the implementation of the NIST Quality Management System at all locations. Shodiya earned a bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering with a mathematics minor from Penn State in 2010 and a doctorate in mechanical engineering and materials science from Duke University.