Invited Experts
Keynote Speaker - Making Your Message Matter
Dr.Sara Mazrouei (she/her)
Educational Developer Faculty, Humber College
Dr. Sara Mazrouei is a planetary scientist, an educational developer, and a science communicator with a passion for sharing the wonders of the universe with the public. Her PhD research focused on the recent bombardment history of the Moon and links to future sample-return missions. Sara is also passionate about increasing the status of women in STEM and equity, diversity, and meaningful inclusion. She is currently an Educational Developer Faculty at Humber College and one of the Toronto producers for the StoryCollider.
Panelists - Ways of Knowing within a Scientific Context
Mohammed Yasir Essar (he/him)
MSc in Global Health, McMaster University
Yasir is a former refugee from Afghanistan. He holds an MSc in Global Health from McMaster University. Yasir’s professional journey is marked by an unwavering commitment to knowledge and a passion for making a real-world impact. His scholarly work has been published in prestigious journals such as The Lancet, BMJ, and PLoS. He is an advocate for refugee health and has delivered multiple lectures and talks on this topic. As an author and educator, he explores the dynamic landscape of Global Health to educate and inspire young professionals.
Connie Crocker (she/her)
Kelp Rescue, First Nations Liaison
Connie Crocker (Xqulsiim) is an elder from the Pune'luxutth' Tribe and lives on Vancouver Island, BC. She currently works as a First Nations Liaison for the Kelp Rescue Initiative out of Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. Connie has spent her life on BC's beautiful coastline working with her family as a commercial fisher, working for DFO, and helping to organize Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council.
Workshop Leads
Unconventional Methods of Science Communication
Carrie Boyce (she/her)
Executive Director, RCI Science
Carrie Boyce is the Executive Director of the Royal Canadian Institute for Science (RCIScience), Canada’s oldest scientific society that’s been connecting people in Canada with science since 1849. With over a decade’s experience working in the field of science communication and public engagement, it’s fair to say Carrie’s become a Jack of all trades, master of some… Originally from Northern Ireland, she moved to Cambridge, England to pursue a degree in Natural Sciences, before working for organisations like the University of Cambridge, the Royal Society of Chemistry and Cancer Research UK. Eager for life’s next adventure, she moved to Canada in 2017 and has been happily working with RCIScience (and drinking maple syrup) ever since. Carrie is also a co-founder and Executive Producer of Science is a Drag, an award-winning, science-themed drag show by and for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and co-steward of the SciCommTO network.
Celia Du (she/her)
Program Manager, RCI Science
Celia Du is a science communication specialist with extensive experience engaging various audiences with science. Currently the Programs Manager at RCIScience, she has worked with the Canadian Space Agency, the Gairdner Foundation, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Science Everywhere, and Science Rendezvous, and has been interviewed by Discovery UK, Global News, The Canadian Press, and CTV News. With a background in Chemistry from McGill University and a Master’s in Science Communication and Public Engagement from the University of Edinburgh, she is dedicated to improving science communication practices to better bridge science and the public. She has led workshops and trained budding science communicators through RCIScience and Lotus STEMM.
Finding the Funny - Forays into Science Comedy
Dr. Alexander Hall (he/him)
Assistant Professor, School of Interdisciplinary Science, McMaster University
Alexander Hall is an Assistant Professor in Science Communication at McMaster University and lead investigator of the Science in Society Lab. Dr Hall is a historian of science whose work combines mixed-methods research and science communication practice to better understand the development of popular science media and the public understanding of 15 science in society. His interests include the history of science on television, climate change communication, and the use of alternative narratives and formats in science communication, such as comedy.
Digital Storytelling: Enhancing Inclusivity in Science Communication Practices
Dr. Selina Mudavanhu (she/her)
Assistant Professor, Communication Studies & Media Arts, McMaster University
Selina Mudavanhu is a faculty member in the Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts at McMaster University. She holds a PhD in Media Studies from the Centre for Film and Media Studies at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa. One of Selina’s research interests is digital storytelling. In this work, she prioritises the voices of the ‘subaltern.’ Selina is interested in the manner ordinary people speak back to power, articulate their lived experiences, and create alternative meanings through digital storytelling.
Accessibility in Science Communication
Alyssa Paparella (she/her)
PhD Candidate, Cancer and Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine
Alyssa Paparella is a 4th year PhD Candidate at Baylor College of Medicine in the Cancer and Cell Biology Program along with being a 2023 HHMI Gilliam Fellow. In 2020, Alyssa created the DisabledInSTEM platform to raise awareness of disabled scientists and create a community that did not exist prior. As one branch of the DisabledInSTEM platform, Alyssa organizes a mentorship program, which in four years has had 380 participants. Throughout her time in graduate school, Alyssa has been passionate about advocacy and promoting inclusion and accessibility within STEM.
& Tam Pham (they/she/chanh)
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University
Tam Pham is a disabled queer person of colour who does protein research and is currently a PhD candidate at Rainey Lab from Dalhousie University. Their research interest is in characterizing and understanding small protein interactions. Tam is passionate about science communication, especially in making science accessible to members of marginalized communities and developing science policy for the communities that they are a part of. Tam’s stimming time consists of dancing, reading, and building mini book nooks.
Science Improv
Dr. Joanne O’Meara (she/her)
Royal City Science, University of Guelph
Dr. O’Meara (@NeutroJo) has been teaching university-level physics for over20 years and doing public outreach for even longer. Her passion for teaching and learning has been recognized with many awards, including the Canadian Association of Physicists Medal for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (2011) and a 3M National Fellowship award (2019). Joanne is also the co-founder of Royal City Science, a non-profit organization established in 2020 with the ultimate goal of building a new science city for southwestern Ontario.
& Hartley Jafine (he/him)
Part-time Lecturer, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University
Hartley Jafine teaches improvisational theatre to health scientists and trainee doctors. Medicine is a performance, and the skills actors and improvisers learn are equally important for any health-care role. For more than 10 years, Hartley Jafine has been facilitating theatre courses within undergraduate health science and medical education - to enhance the clinical skills of students and train better health-care professionals.
Create-A-Thon Experts
Kara Aaserud (she/her)
University Advancement, McMaster University
Kara Aaserud is a communications professional with more than 15 years’ experience in university communications and magazine and digital journalism. Her written work has appeared in Canadian Business, PROFIT and Today’s Parent, as well as numerous university, trade and online publications on topics that range from optimal aging, exercise, and nutrition, to business strategy, technology and nance. As manager of strategic communications, university advancement, at McMaster University, Kara is responsible for developing tailored communications strategies, producing detailed proposals, cases for support and donor reports. She holds degrees in English from the University of Alberta and Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Isabel Hughes (she/her)
Independent/self-employed
Isabel Hughes (she/her) is an award-winning digital designer and illustrator based in the GTA. Since nishing her master’s degree in digital media at the Centre for Digital Media in Vancouver, she has worked extensively with clients big and small, from local businesses to national companies. With experience in the non-prot sector, the startup space – her own startup backed by Simon Fraser University’s SFU VentureLabs in 2020 – and an afnity for all things tech, Isabel’s unique background has informed her extensive work. Currently, Isabel freelances as a graphic designer focused on branding and interactive design. She is also an accomplished illustrator, creating digital illustrations that showcase her uniquely retro, comic-inspired style. She can often be found exhibiting her illustrations at various artisan markets across the GTA. When Isabel is not working (or drawing), she can be found playing in local rec hockey leagues, or tending to her ever-growing collection of houseplants.
Katie Moisse (she/her)
McMaster University
Katie Moisse is a science journalist and an Assistant Professor at McMaster University teaching science communication. She was the Digital Health Editor for ABC News and has bylines in Scientic American and The Atlantic.
Jayne Morrish (she/her)
Brock University
Jayne Morrish is the Research Impact Manager in the Ofce of Research Services at Brock University, where she dedicates her time to providing specic and tangible expertise to empower researchers in realizing the outputs, outcomes, and impacts of their scholarly work. The Research Impact Unit, which Jayne manages, offers a comprehensive suite of services and expertise tailored to the diverse needs of researchers, facilitating their success in mobilizing knowledge into action. Jayne has received various awards, including the Certicate of Academic Excellence from the Canadian Psychological Association, a 40 Under Forty award, and Brock's President’s Distinguished Staff Service Award for Outstanding Contributions.
Megan Ogilvie (she/her)
Toronto Star
Megan Oglivie is a health reporter for the Toronto Star. She has a graduate degree in science writing from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has spent much of her 15-year journalism career writing about science, health and medicine. She has authored three successful series for the Star – including the popular ‘Tree of the Week’ – and her book, Menu Condential, was shortlisted for a 2013 Taste Canada Award. Megan was a key member of the Star team covering the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on the health-care system.
Rachel Salt (she/her)
Canadian Association of Science Centres, ScienceUpFirst Initiative
Megan Oglivie is a health reporter for the Toronto Star. She has a graduate degree in science writing from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has spent much of her 15-year journalism career writing about science, health and medicine. She has authored three successful series for the Star – including the popular ‘Tree of the Week’ – and her book, Menu Condential, was shortlisted for a 2013 Taste Canada Award. Megan was a key member of the Star team covering the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on the health-care system.
Molly Wells (she/her)
University of Toronto
Molly Wells is a science illustrator that is passionate about science visualization and communication. She explored visual science communication in her honours research at Dalhousie University on the use of visuals in marine science outreach, presenting her work at two conferences. She also completed a NSERC-funded research project on the roles of marine science illustrations throughout history. She further won a scholarship to join the One Ocean Expedition, where she kept a daily sketch journal to share her experience. Molly has been privileged to work for clients in various disciplines such as marine biology, oceanography, microbiology, oncology, and patient health. Previous partners and clients include the SEAM lab at Dalhousie University, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Designs That Cell, and the Université de Montréal. Molly’s favourite part of her job is that her clients are experts and passionate in their eld. When they explain their research, she learns something new and can then help share that knowledge with a wider audience using visuals. Molly is enjoying strengthening her science background and visual skills in the MSc Biomedical Communications program at UofT.
Harsha Sindhi (she/her)
McMaster University
Harsha Sindhi is a BSc. Chemistry graduate with a diploma in Chemical-Environmental Technology. She is a skilled Research Technologist with 5 years of work experience in analytical and radiochemistry research and development.
