Our Newsletter
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Article ItemSURF workshops: From research to connection for effective communication , article
Sept. 25, 2026. “Work hard, play hard” is a phrase you might be familiar with, and this summer proved to some student researchers that with the right tools you can make work feel like play again. The Center for Communicating Science worked with Virginia Tech's Fralin Life Sciences Institute Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program to help undergraduate researchers think about and enhance how they communicate their work, skills they put into immediate practice.
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Center cultivates communication skills in young engineers , articleSept. 25, 2026. Faculty at the Center for Communicating Science spent part of the summer cultivating communication skills in young engineers through Virginia Tech’s Center for Engineering Excellence and Discovery. This summer marked the fifth year that CCS facilitators led workshops with groups of visiting students to help them expand their confidence and communication skills. The workshops also helped students recognize how important communication is in every field.
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"From Bench to Impact" panelists stress community partnerships and building trust , articleSept. 22, 2026. Effective scientific communication requires working alongside communities to improve their health, education, and access to information and services. The panelists of Research America’s From Bench to Impact: Bridging Community and Research — Communicating Science Effectively, held August 19, 2026, discussed different ways to communicate effectively with the public and consistently returned to one central idea: Communities should not be treated as subjects, but as partners.
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Science on Tap: Mosquitoes, nectar, and "zombie heads" , articleAug. 27, 2026. What do nectar, mosquito larvae, and “zombie heads” have in common? They were all part of an evening exploring the unexpected world of mosquitoes at the August 27, 2026, Science on Tap at Rising Silo Brewery. Virginia Tech third-year Ph.D. candidate James Moloney brought live mosquitoes and larvae, research-use mosquito traps, and informational posters while sharing how mosquitoes find food, detect scents, and navigate their environment.
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Article ItemFighting cancer twice: How tumor ablation can help the immune system , article
July 17, 2026. What if cancer treatment could destroy tumors while also helping the immune system fight back? For the July Science on Tap event at Rising Silo Brewery, seven researchers from the Irving Coy Allen lab at Virginia Tech explained how their research explores the intersection of cancer treatment and immunology and how tumor ablation could potentially help the immune system fight cancer on its own.
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Article ItemNutshell Games registration opens Monday, September 14! , article
Sept. 7, 2026. Do you want to engage an audience, convince folks your work is important, and explain your research in less time than it takes to reply to an email, feed your pet, or make a cup of coffee? Then the Nutshell Games is for you! While some may find the challenge daunting, nearly 300 graduate students have risen to the occasion since our inaugural event in 2017. You could be next: Registration for the 2026 Nutshell Games opens at 8 a.m. on Monday, September 14th!
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Presenters and volunteers needed for Flip the Fair 2026!Aug. 5, 2026. Join us for Flip the Fair 2026! Flip the Fair is a flipped science fair where graduate students, post-docs, vet students, and med students present their research science-fair-style on tri-fold poster boards, and 5th graders judge them. Prizes are awarded to the best presenters. This year’s event will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. October 1 at the Melrose Branch of the Roanoke Public Library.
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Celebrating the stories of CCS alumniAug. 3, 2026. Learning to communicate research goes beyond giving a great presentation. It helps researchers become more effective scientists, educators, collaborators, and community partners, and several recent achievements by CCS alums demonstrate just that. Read more to see how recent Communicating Science "alumni" have been honored for their work.
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Article ItemAn exciting expansion, the second annual Undergraduate Nutshell Games takes place in Spring 2026 , article
July 23, 2026. With $500 for conference travel and a highly coveted squirrel trophy on the line, the Center for Communicating Science established a space for undergraduate researchers to compete for the best research presentation given in just 90 seconds.
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AI ethics and policy through applied theatre: An experimental approach , articleJune 29, 2026. Just three years ago, more than 30,000 people signed an open letter calling for a pause in the development of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems, warning of "profound risks to society and humanity." Today, with AI tools increasingly woven into everyday life with no pause in sight, the availability, power, use, and misuse of artificial intelligence affects every university student. These challenges inspired an applied theatre project to help students examine AI ethics.
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Nutshell Games hit the road: Inspiring future scientists in Southwest Virginia , articleJune 20, 2026. In April, six Virginia Tech graduate students and postdoctoral researchers packed up their 90-second research talks and traveled to Abingdon, Virginia, for the inaugural Nutshell Games on the Road. The event invited local eighth grade students and their families to experience research through storytelling, creativity, and conversation.
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Science on Tap: Environmental changes in your backyard , articleJune 12, 2026. Have you ever noticed environmental changes right in your own backyard? That question set the stage for a talk led by Katie Burke and three guests featured in her recent series, “A Warming World, a Rural Challenge in Southwestern Virginia” for April's Science on Tap at Rising Silo Brewery.
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