Our Newsletter

Feb. 26, 2025. Effective communication is at the heart of great teaching, impactful outreach, and successful collaboration. Whether you're engaging students, sharing research with the public, or working with colleagues across disciplines, your message needs to be clear and compelling. 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 April 14 workshop: Distilling Your Message for Teaching and Outreach: Brief and Compelling Interactions with the People You Need to Talk to.

Feb. 24, 2025. Four graduate students from Virginia Tech’s Center for Communicating Science (CCS) took center stage February 5 as invited speakers for Virginia Tech’s monthly WInGS (Widening Inclusivity in the (Geo)Sciences) seminar series. Padmaja Mandadi, Esther Oyedele, Amy Hagen, and Prescott Vayda shared their experiences in a presentation titled, "Engaging Communities through the Virginia Tech Center for Communicating Science."

Feb. 13, 2025. In celebration of Women’s Month, join us for a screening of the film "Picture a Scientist," followed by a post-film “reel talk” panel discussion with Virginia Tech faculty and students about the status of women in the STEM professions. This engaging event is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at the Lyric Theatre in downtown Blacksburg. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 5, 2025. What’s shorter than a TED Talk and twice as fun? The Faculty Nutshell Talks — and you’re invited to experience the excitement Tuesday, March 4, at 5:30 p.m. at the Moss Arts Center! This is your chance to watch brilliant Virginia Tech faculty tackle the ultimate challenge: explaining their groundbreaking research in just 90 entertaining seconds. This event is open to the public free of charge.

Jan. 30, 2025. How do the products and layout of grocery stores impact their local communities? That’s one of the questions Maria DeNunzio addressed at the January 23 Science on Tap event “Food for Thought: How Retail Spaces Shape Our Choices and the Planet.” DeNunzio explained the nuanced psychology behind grocery shopping and how stores could motivate consumers to make more environmentally sustainable purchases.

Jan. 9, 2025. The Center for Communicating Science (CCS) is thrilled to announce the launch of our pilot storytelling class, The Power of Story: Crafting Personal and Professional Narratives. This initiative is part of our effort to equip researchers with the strongest communication skills possible. Designed by Patricia Raun, theatre professor and director of the CCS, the course will explore the profound power of storytelling in supporting understanding and driving meaningful change. Click here for full story.

Jan. 8, 2025. We are delighted to welcome Erin Smith to the Center for Communicating Science! Smith began her work at the center January 2 as project coordinator for community engagement initiatives, a role that will boost the center’s mission to create and support experiences for scientists, engineers, scholars, and health professionals to build their muscles of connection, communication, and collaboration. Please join us in welcoming Erin to Virginia Tech! Click here to read the full story.

Jan. 8, 2025. Attention Virginia Tech faculty: It's time to shine in the 2025 Faculty Nutshell Talks! Are you ready to show the world what your research is all about? Whether you're a seasoned presenter or new to the stage, this is your chance to captivate an audience, enhance your communication skills, and compete for one of four $1,000 professional development prizes. Click here to read the full story and find the registration link.

Nov. 27, 2024. What innovative research are Virginia Tech students undertaking? Led by three Interfaces of Global Change Fellows — Sharif Islam, Meredith Snyder, and Katie Mayer — audience members at the November 21, 2024, Science on Tap event “Hokie Science Showcase” learned about six ongoing research projects. Presenters talked about hellbender conservation, mussel responses to contaminants, measuring soil carbon, disease distribution, and invasive species.

Nov. 12, 2024. Two-way communication can build trust, science communicator Raven Baxter told an audience at Virginia Tech’s Haymarket Theatre on November 6. Also known as “Dr. Raven the Science Maven,” Baxter emphasized that every interaction a researcher has with another person is an opportunity to build curiosity, learning, and trust. Giving people a chance to engage with scientists encourages this, she said. "When trust leads, the truth follows, and people will be open to possibilities," Baxter explained.