Fourteen students from seven different majors have begun their project planning as members of the tenth cohort in the Latham Fellows Program. Latham Fellows take a series of two courses designed to build skills in science communication (LATH:3000) and help them complete their own outreach projects (LATH:3001). Upon completion of the program, students receive a $1000 fellowship award. This year’s Latham Fellows cohort includes Aasiya Ali, Ahmed Baig, Krishna Bharadwaj, Yamam Hussien, Lydia Karr, Natalie Kehrli, Kelsey Martin, Andrea Medina, Chidera Mitchell, Eddie Sandoval, Lily Schaefer, Sabrina Vlk, Avery Wilson, and Bailey Wollesen.  

Students currently enrolled in LATH:3000 have learned about some of the complexities and challenges of communicating science and how to use the assertion-evidence framework to present information effectively. As part of the fall coursework, students have also written a profile piece and recorded a podcast about someone connected to science. The profiles and podcasts have focused on a variety of scientists and science communicators, including graduate students, postdocs, professors, and medical professionals, among others, and have covered a variety of topics, ranging from the journey to becoming a professor to major shifts in a person’s career path or research focus. 

In the spring, students will use some of their new skills to implement a science outreach project of their own. Currently, students plan to communicate science using children’s books, podcasts, brochures, in-person events, and social media. Several students hope to translate their work to reach a broader audience. The Latham Fellows hope to communicate about topics such as health, opportunities in research, early STEM education, dinosaurs, and more. Fellows will present their work at the Latham Showcase at the end of April.

We’re excited to see their projects come to life next semester!