This panel will take place on Friday October 28th from 13:00 – 14:30. The student moderator for this panel is Callum Stonehouse – please email us if you have questions you are interested in having the panellists discuss!
The title of this panel is a quote from senior science writer Sharon Begley, and is often used to illustrate the quest for understanding that fuels scientific research, which is enthusiastically communicated within the science community via academic journals and conference presentations. Begley’s quote could just as easily describe the science communicators and influencers who inspire the next generation of scientists, influence governmental policy, and share scientific research with the everyday people that help fund it. Join us for a discussion of the fascinating intersection of science with journalism, art, and education, while exploring the challenges and opportunities associated with communicating physics to non-scientists.
Please see the biographies of our panellists below!
Kate Howells
Kate Howells (she/her) works as a Communications Strategist for The Planetary Society creating outreach initiatives that empower ordinary people to advance space science and exploration. She also advises The Planetary Society on Canadian space policy issues, and is on the board of directors of Royal City Science, a non-profit science centre initiative in Guelph Ontario, and serves on the Government of Canada’s Space Advisory Board. Howells is the author of the popular science book Space is Cool As F***.
Dr. Joanne O’Meara
Dr. Joanne O’Meara’s (she/her) research includes designing x-ray fluorescence systems for wide-ranging applications, from measuring trace elements in wounded soldiers to assessing the chemical composition of rocks and soils on the surface of Mars. Additionally, she is the co-founder of Royal City Science, a not-for-profit organization promoting various science programs for local communities. Joanne is a winner of the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) Medal for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (2011) and was also the recipient of a prestigious 3M National Teaching Fellowship in Canada (2019).
Sarah Everts
After a rewarding career in science journalism, Sarah Everts (she/her) joined Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication in 2019 where she is now the CTV Chair in Digital Science Journalism and an Associate Professor. She continues to work as a freelance journalist (publishing in magazines such as The Economist, Scientific American and the Smithsonian) and is the author of the award-winning book The Joy of Sweat: The Strange Science of Perspiration.
Amy Catanzano
Amy Catanzano (she/her) is a poet and transmedia artist who uses the world of science as inspiration for her works. Catanzano is also an Associate Professor of English in Creative Writing and the Poet-in-Residence at Wake Forest University. Using a method known as quantum poetics, Catanzano uses poetry, interactive online art, and multiple other forms of literary art to turn quantum mechanics into quantum magnificence. As new discoveries are made and research is conducted, Catanzano’s work provides a thought-provoking and unique way to communicate the complex nature of topics throughout science. Catanzano is also a successful author, including Starlight in Two Million: A Neo-Scientific Novella (2014), recipient of the Noemi Press Book Award in Fiction, and Multiversal (2009), recipient of the PEN USA Literary Award in Poetry.