In this episode, host Kacie speaks with Meagan Naraine, co-founder and executive director of Culturally Relevant Science, an Atlanta-based nonprofit developing K-12 science curriculum that centers students who have historically been left out of it. Drawing on nearly a decade as a classroom biology teacher, Meagan discusses how her founder story became a competitive advantage, why proximity to your audience is a strategic asset, and what aspiring civic science entrepreneurs should know about building a venture while still working in the field

In this episode of Science Engaged, Dr. Kristel Tjandra speaks with Dr. Grace Wolf-Chase, a senior scientist and senior education and communication specialist at the Planetary Science Institute, a nonprofit organization that supports a distributed network of planetary scientists. She is also the co-creator of the Milky Way Project, a participatory science initiative that contributes to the understanding of how stars form. 

In 2024, Dr. Wolf-Chase was elected as an American Astronomical Society fellow for outstanding and sustained work to bring the wonders of astronomical research to the general public. In our conversation, she explains why she views public engagement as integral to scientific practice itself, not separate from it. Drawing on her experience designing and sustaining citizen science projects, she highlights one of the central design constraints that practitioners often underestimate: while many people are motivated to contribute to science, participation is limited less by interest than by time. This reality shaped the Milky Way Project and similar initiatives to allow flexible, low-commitment participation without requiring long-term obligations.

Click here to access the full analysis of the conversation.

In this episode of Science Engaged, Dr. Kristel Tjandra speaks with Citizen Science Manager, Haley Davis, from the International SeaKeepers Society, an ocean conservation nonprofit that advances marine research by engaging the yachting community. Davis explains how private vessels can serve as research platforms through citizen science programs and scientist-led expeditions, including contributions to the Seabed 2030 effort to map the world’s ocean floor.

She shares key insights with me on how distributed vessel participation expands data collection, why well-designed protocols enable non-scientists to gather usable data, and why many boat owners choose to support research. She also discusses practical challenges, including aligning expectations between scientists and yacht crews, protecting private vessels during fieldwork, and addressing skepticism about the quality of citizen-generated data.

In this episode, I speak with Dr. John Besley from Michigan State University, whose work focuses on public opinion about science and scientists’ opinion about the public. John is a co-author of the book Strategic Science Communication: A Guide to Setting the Right Objectives for More Effective Public Engagement and another open access book, published in 2025, called Science Communication for Scientists. John explains 3 key questions that help people decide whether they want to participate in a science project: Is it worthwhile? Do I have the means to do it? Are the scientists trustworthy? 

Hosted by Dr. Kristel Tjandra, Science Engaged is an audio program from the Civic Science Media Lab that explores why and how scientists partner with diverse communities. Dr. Tjandra speaks to scientists who have worked with local communities on a variety of participatory science projects. She asks them why they think public participation in science is important, what results these collaborations produce, and how to do it well.

In this episode, host Kacie speaks with Kim Steele, founder of the production company Documentaries Don't Work, about using entertainment to communicate climate science. Drawing from her background in film and Broadway, Kim discusses why traditional climate messaging may not be reaching broad audiences and how narrative fiction can connect with people in ways that data alone cannot. She explores the global reach of Hollywood storytelling, the importance of starting with audience preferences, and the value of diverse creators telling climate stories. Kim offers insights for science communicators on moving beyond awareness-building to inspire emotional engagement and action.

In this Halloween edition, Kacie speaks with Dr. Brett Blaauw, a peach entomologist at the University of Georgia. Dr. Blaauw shares strategies for engaging diverse audiences about insects from engaging kids with fun facts about dung beetles to helping adults appreciate pollinators through their connection to coffee and chocolate. They discuss agricultural extension methods including on-farm research, conferences, and apps. The conversation highlights the critical role of beneficial insects, especially parasitoid wasps, in natural pest control.

In this episode, host Kacie speaks with Quandra Gray, founder of What the Sprout, about bridging academic agricultural knowledge with practical community applications. Quandra discusses her transition from communications to creating microgreen cultivation workshops that address food insecurity through education and self-reliance. They explore strategies for overcoming barriers like fear of failure, balancing scientific accuracy with genuine human connection, and how academic expertise can serve fundamental community needs beyond traditional professional settings.

In this episode, host Kacie speaks with Corey Gumbs, founder of the Black Podcasters Association and board member of Air Media, about his unconventional path into science communication. Corey shares his personal journey from music and web development to building communities around science podcasting, exploring how each experience shaped his approach to making complex topics accessible. Drawing from childhood curiosity about taking apart radios to current work teaching toddlers, he discusses the lessons learned along the way about connecting with diverse audiences and the responsibility that comes with science communication.

In this episode, host Kacie speaks with Mezu, artist and technologist at Infinity Village Lab, about revolutionary approaches to civic science communication through participatory art. Drawing from their interdisciplinary background in sociology and data analysis, Mezu discusses how they discovered that "bar graphs don't make you cry" and developed their innovative "creative cross analysis" process. They explore how art interventions can engage core cultural identities in ways traditional data visualization cannot. Mezu shares insights from projects like Field to Act and Public Comment, revealing how moving data beyond screens and into embodied experiences can bridge the gap between information and meaningful action for social change.