Science with Impact

Oct 8

✨ Behind every episode of Science with Impact is a small but mighty team—and in this special episode, we step out from behind the curtain to share our own stories. Meet the people who bring this podcast to life: 👩🔬 Dr. Vanessa Rosa — Chemist, educator, and science communicator, passionate about h...Read more

✨ Behind every episode of Science with Impact is a small but mighty team—and in this special episode, we step out from behind the curtain to share our own stories. Meet the people who bring this podcast to life: 👩🔬 Dr. Vanessa Rosa — Chemist, educator, and science communicator, passionate about helping researchers measure and scale the broader societal impacts of their work. 🎨 Yasmina Demaj — Strategic science communicator and designer who specializes in breaking down complex ideas into visuals and language that resonate. 🎥 Rafael Fernanz — Award-winning filmmaker and video producer who translates science into compelling stories through visuals, pacing, and emotion. Together, we reflect on the evolving landscape of science communication—why purpose matters more than prestige, how storytelling can spark curiosity, and why scientists need to embrace accessibility if they want their work to reach beyond journals and conferences. Here are a few of the insights we share: 🔑 Prestige outlasts publications—but purpose creates real impact. 🔑 Storytelling and visual design transform how people feel science. 🔑 Simplicity isn’t dumbing down—it’s opening doors to curiosity. 🔑 Depth of impact matters just as much as scale or duration. We also talk about the challenges of measuring “depth”—the change you can’t always see right away, but that lingers in someone’s thinking, choices, or curiosity long after an event or video. 🎥 Watch the full episode through the link in our bio: https://youtu.be/X_OkfVkNlUA?si=Y1llJwHXph5Kr67N This episode is both personal and practical—a chance to get to know the team and to reflect on the bigger question at the heart of this project: What does it really mean to create science with impact? 👉 After you watch, I’d love to hear your perspective: How do you measure the impact of your work outside of traditional academic metrics?

Oct 6

🌟 What makes a scientific career sustainable? According to Dr. Valeria De La Rosa-Reyes, it’s not just about publications or accolades—it’s about mentorship, collaboration, and joy. In this episode of the Science with Impact podcast, Dr. Valeria shares her journey as a Puerto Rican anatomist, pro...Read more

🌟 What makes a scientific career sustainable? According to Dr. Valeria De La Rosa-Reyes, it’s not just about publications or accolades—it’s about mentorship, collaboration, and joy. In this episode of the Science with Impact podcast, Dr. Valeria shares her journey as a Puerto Rican anatomist, professor, and neuroscientist at the University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón. Her story reminds us that resilience and community are essential, especially when navigating the unique challenges of conducting research on an island—funding delays, infrastructure hurdles, and the demands of balancing a full teaching load with an active research program. But what stands out most is her commitment to students. From inviting undergraduates into the lab for their very first research experiences, to using resources like the Allen Institute’s data to make neuroscience accessible, Dr. Valeria shows how mentorship is not just guidance—it’s a multiplier for impact. The joy of teaching, the creativity of research, and the support of good collaborators all come together in her story. 👉 I’d love to know—what’s the most impactful mentorship experience you’ve had in your scientific journey? Share in the comments or DM me directly.

Sep 25

What does career stability in science look like in 2025? For many of us, the traditional path—built on a single employer or a single stream of federal funding—no longer feels secure. Like many researchers, I once assumed stability meant staying on track toward tenure. But life, priorities, and real...Read more

What does career stability in science look like in 2025? For many of us, the traditional path—built on a single employer or a single stream of federal funding—no longer feels secure. Like many researchers, I once assumed stability meant staying on track toward tenure. But life, priorities, and realities shifted. I had to ask myself: what if all my eggs are in the wrong basket? That question pushed me to build Science with Impact, where we partner with research teams to amplify the societal value of STEM discoveries. Instead of relying on one pathway, I’ve found that a diversified career portfolio—spanning academia, nonprofits, industry, and media—can create stability while strengthening the impact of science. 💡 In my recent feature with Chemical & Engineering News, I share what I’ve learned from my journey in chemistry and beyond: 1. Reimagining Science – To stay relevant, research must tell a story that matters outside the lab. 2. Transferable Skills Matter – Critical thinking, design, and collaboration can carry you into new opportunities. 3. Beyond Federal Grants – Relying on a single funding stream is risky; stability comes from broad partnerships. 4. A New Career Model – Today’s scientists thrive by building flexible, cross-sector portfolios rather than following one narrow track. These aren’t just lessons from my own career—they’re reflections on how STEM can evolve to be more sustainable, impactful, and connected to society. Huge thanks to Chris Gorski and the American Chemical Society for telling this story and spotlighting why connecting science to society matters more than ever. 🔗 You can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/geE-P3iR 👉 I’d love to hear from you: How are you diversifying your approach to your scientific career? What opportunities outside the traditional track have made a difference for you?

Sep 22

✨ What if everyone did like science—they just hadn’t found the kind they connect with yet? In this week’s Science with Impact episode, Jocelyn Bosley (Research Impact Coordinator, University of Nebraska–Lincoln) makes that case. From her Fun-Sized Physics project to her reflections on poetry, metap...Read more

✨ What if everyone did like science—they just hadn’t found the kind they connect with yet? In this week’s Science with Impact episode, Jocelyn Bosley (Research Impact Coordinator, University of Nebraska–Lincoln) makes that case. From her Fun-Sized Physics project to her reflections on poetry, metaphors, and mentorship, Jocelyn shares how scientists can: - Break down complex ideas without losing accuracy - Use storytelling to spark awe and curiosity - Reconnect with their own sense of wonder while teaching others This episode is a reminder that science isn’t just equations and data—it’s about making meaning, building connections, and showing people the beauty of discovery. 🎥 Watch the full conversation here ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cETuRZxym4Y What’s the most creative way you’ve explained your science to someone outside your field?

Sep 22

Teachers are the frontlines of science. 🧪📚 In this week’s Science with Impact Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Matt Wilkins, Founder and CEO of the Galactic Polymath Education Studio, to explore why supporting educators is the key to building a science-positive society. Matt shares powerful insights...Read more

Teachers are the frontlines of science. 🧪📚 In this week’s Science with Impact Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Matt Wilkins, Founder and CEO of the Galactic Polymath Education Studio, to explore why supporting educators is the key to building a science-positive society. Matt shares powerful insights from his journey as a biologist, educator, and science communicator: why outreach can’t be an afterthought, how teachers shape the next generation’s relationship with science, and what it really takes to translate complex research into the classroom. This conversation is a reminder that the final step of research isn’t just publication—it’s mobilization. And when we invest in teachers, we multiply the impact of science across entire communities. 🎧 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/tR4ZZ675Qok?feature=shared