Our Newsletter

April 7, 2026. A virus is simply a molecule of nucleic acid inside a protein coat. Unless they’re inside a living cell, they are unable to multiply. How do virologists, the scientists who study them, grow them in the lab when these microscopic infectious agents depend entirely on living cells? This is a question that blends curiosity with cutting-edge science, and it shapes Hannah Brown’s research. At the February Science on Tap, she guided the audience through the hidden world of viruses and the innovative methods scientists use to study them.

March 26, 2026. A lineup of compelling speakers and an energetic audience set the stage for ideas and exchange at the 2026 Faculty Nutshell Talks. Built around a simple challenge—sharing research in just 90 seconds, with no slides or jargon—Virginia Tech faculty turned complex scholarship into vivid, accessible stories that bridged disciplines and connected research with communities.

Feb. 24, 2026. What happens when you turn a science fair upside down? At this year’s festival, the U.S. National Science Foundation COMPASS Center (Center for COMmunity Empowering Pandemic Prediction and Prevention from Atoms to SocietieS) and the Center for Communicating Science partnered to bring “Flip the Fair” to life on the third-floor balcony of the Center for the Arts.

Feb. 12, 2026. Have you ever soiled your underwear? Ha! Probably not with the soil you're thinking of. But this question opened a conversation about the living world beneath our feet, led by Summer Thomas of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition and Caroline Wolcott, a Virginia Tech Ph.D. student in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences.

Feb. 11, 2026. Get ready for a fast-paced evening of ideas, storytelling, and discovery! At the Faculty Nutshell Talks, Virginia Tech faculty take the stage to share their research in just 90 seconds—no slides, no jargon, just clear, compelling stories designed for a public audience.

Feb. 20, 2026. A new graduate certificate program is available for graduate students who want “to learn and critically analyze the norms, practices, and cultural elements of technical – including scientific – information,” says Department of English faculty member and Center for Communicating Science collaborator Julie Gerdes.

Feb. 20, 2026. This year the Center for Communicating Science (CCS) is benefiting from the expertise and initiative of three graduate student employees: Bria Weisz, Sai Navya Vadlamudi, and Lauren Tucker. Together they represent the arts, biomedical sciences, and public health and contribute distinct perspectives to our work.

Feb. 24, 2026. The 2025 Research!America Public Engagement Content Awards, presented by Research!America, recognized Brean Prefontaine, a postdoctoral researcher at Duke University, for developing freely accessible evaluation resources for public engagement practitioners—a need that is widely acknowledged but often under-supported.

Feb. 18, 2026. How do the skill sets between being a scientific practitioner and holding public office align? Themes such as accessible communication and constant learning were discussed at an Association of Science Communicators webinar on January 23, 2026, “What Elected Office Taught me about Science Communication.” During the panel discussion, the moderator and speakers delved into their paths as both scientists and public servants.

Dec. 18, 2025. The Center for Communicating Science invites faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate students to transform complex information into clear, compelling, and engaging messages in its March 16 workshop: "Distilling Your Message for Teaching and Outreach: Brief and Compelling Interactions with the People You Need to Talk to."