Planet SciComm

Join hosts Sarah Brockway and Allie White for a conversation with Dr. Mitali Tyagi. Mitali is a recent graduate from the University of Utah's Neuroscience PhD Program. She's currently continuing her incredible research in a lab at WashU. We talk to her all about how she first fell in love with science, the story behind her PhD dissertation work, how she deals with imposter syndrome, and so much more.

If you want to read further about her research, check out her pre-print here: doi.org/10.1101/2024.10.22.619703

Learn more at utahsciencecommunicators.com, follow us on Instagram @utahsciencecommunicators, and don't miss our upcoming events! Contact us at: [email protected].

This podcast is independently produced and distributed by Utah Science Communicators. The opinions expressed are those of the people involved in this organization and guests, and do not reflect the official views of the University of Utah.

Planet SciComm is back in 2026!

Our first episode of the year, in honor of Valentine's Day, explores the lovey-dovey behavior of different animals. Sam, Sarah, and Allie dive into the world of monogamous sleepy lizards, dancing sage grouse, and empathetic rats.

Learn more at utahsciencecommunicators.com, follow us on Instagram @utahsciencecommunicators, and don't miss our upcoming events! Contact us at: [email protected].

This podcast is independently produced and distributed by Utah Science Communicators. The opinions expressed are those of the people involved in this organization and guests, and do not reflect the official views of the University of Utah.

Notes:

More on sleepy lizards: https://blog.nature.org/2021/09/20/the-love-stories-of-sleepy-lizards/

Sage Grouse mating dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCBQrVpeLQU

Lucy Cooke: http://www.lucycooke.tv/

More on empathetic rats: https://news.uchicago.edu/story/helping-your-fellow-rat-rodents-show-empathy-driven-behavior#:~:text=While%20emotional%20contagion%20is%20the%20simplest%20form,immediately%20upon%20placement%20in%20the%20test%20arena.

On this episode of Planet SciComm, Sarah and Allie chat with graduate student Courtney Demmitt-Rice about her experiences as a researcher, mother, and caretaker. Courtney discusses how public health policy intersects with her research, why we should all care about rare diseases, and why lipids are the most underrated macromolecule.

Learn more at utahsciencecommunicators.com, follow us on Instagram @utahsciencecommunicators, and don't miss our upcoming events! Contact us at: [email protected]

Note: Courtney does not receive any money for June's medical services, only insurance coverage through Medicaid.

This podcast is independently produced and distributed by Utah Science Communicators. The opinions expressed are those of the people involved in this organization and guests and do not reflect the official views of the University of Utah.

Join us for the second episode of Planet SciComm: A Utah Science Communicators Podcast, where we dive into the science behind science communication.

Allie White and Nathan Johnston sit down with Dr. Sara Yeo, one of the original hosts of Planet SciComm. Dr. Yeo is a Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Communication at the University of Utah, where she researches strategic science communication, public opinions of STEM, and information processing.

In this interview, Sara, Allie, and Nathan delve into a variety of topics, ranging from why ospreys are the best bird to the importance of impact identity in science communication.

Learn more at utahsciencecommunicators.com, follow us on Instagram @utahsciencecommunicators, and don’t miss our upcoming events! Contact us at: [email protected]

Check out the links below to learn more about some of the references made in this episode:

https://www.kavlifoundation.org/news/insights-and-practical-considerations-for-communicating-basic-science

https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12411/strategic-science-communication?srsltid=AfmBOorYxETMFhRpW8hTKMyEEMZmhyNTyE40Lgag1WPV2nsOHvkF4Thh

https://stemap.utah.edu/

https://www.kenyon.edu/news/archive/turtles-all-the-way-down/

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Osprey/overview

https://www.science.org/content/article/fifteen-years-later-science-retracts-arsenic-life-paper-despite-study-authors

This podcast is independently produced and distributed by Utah Science Communicators. The opinions expressed are those of the people involved in this organization and do not reflect the official view of the University of Utah.

Welcome to a brand new chapter of Planet SciComm! In this kickoff episode, we're thrilled to introduce ourselves as the new hosts - students from Utah Science Communicators (USCo). We are a passionate, student-led group dedicated to making science accessible, engaging, and fun.

Join the USCo team as we:

• Introduce each branch of our group (podcast, blog, and outreach)
• Share the origin story of Utah Science Communicators (USCo)
• Reflect on the challenges and excitement of science communication today
• Highlight our collaborative vision for this podcast moving forward

Whether you're a longtime listener or just joining us, this episode sets the stage for the fresh, creative, and student-driven energy we're bringing to the Planet SciComm platform.

Plus: Find out how YOU (yes, you!) can get involved - whether you're curious about podcasting, writing, producing, or sharing your science story.

Learn more at utahsciencecommunicators.com, follow us on Instagram @utahsciencecommunicators, and don't miss our upcoming events! Contact us at: [email protected]

Stay tuned for exclusive interviews, inspiring science stories, and a behind-the-scenes look at how students are shaping the future of science communication.

This podcast is independently produced and distributed by Utah Science Communicators. The opinions expressed are those of the students involved in this organization and do not reflect the official views of the University of Utah.

Jason, Patrick, and Sara chat with Dr. Angela Rasmussen about her experience with the media during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jason, Patrick, and Sara chat with Dr. Bryan Welm of the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah. Dr. Welm is faculty in the Department of Surgery at the University of Utah. He studies breast cancer and is also a metal sculptor who creates science art.

• Bryan Welm’s website: https://www.bryanwelm.com/
• Kimball Art Center, Park City, UT: https://kimballartcenter.org/
• ASM Agar Art Contest: https://asm.org/events/asm-agar-art-contest/home
• Twisted Doodles: https://linktr.ee/twisteddoodles
• Scientific Computing Institute (University of Utah): https://www.sci.utah.edu/

Patrick, Jason, and Sara chat with Bella McDermott about the intersection between industrial design and science communication.

After a brief hiatus, Jason, Patrick, and Sara catch up!

This week we welcome Dr. Bruce Kirchoff (University of North Carolina at Greensboro) to talk about his recent book, Presenting Science Concisely.

• Presenting Science Concisely

• Dr. Kirchoff's YouTube Channel

• Association of Science Communicators

• Jon Wagner's website

• Mike Morrison's Better Poster