December 09, 2021
Media Contact:
Jason Papagan
Manager of Communications
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society
jpapagan@sigmaxi.org
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC—Teams of scientists, artists, and science communicators have won funding to create and deliver evidence-based communication projects and artistic creations that promote engagement or advancement of equitable and just climate solutions. The teams are the winners of the 2021 cohort of #SciCommMake, a competition hosted by Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society and Science Talk in which interdisciplinary teams compete for funding to create projects that help the public connect with science.
Participants attended a virtual matchmaking session on November 7 at the Sigma Xi Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference to form partnerships based on expertise and creative skills. After coaching and concept development, they pitched their project ideas on December 2 to a distinguished panel of judges. Six teams were selected to receive $1,500 each to complete their projects. The winning teams will work to complete their projects over the next several months and will be invited to present their projects at the Science Talk '22 conference, held March 23–25, 2022 in Portland, Oregon.
The funds for #SciCommMake were made possible thanks to generous donations to Sigma Xi from Giving Tuesday Now and sponsorships from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and Science Communicators of North Carolina (SCONC).
Winning Teams
Mining for Stories
Katherine Robert and Madison Worthy
Creative Critical Action-IOT Climate Justice Kit
Rusty Low and Jane Crayton
Let’s Build Together!
Ana-Paula Palacios Rodriguez and Emma Garcia-Melchor
Urban Heat Islands—Cool Our Cities
Tom Di Liberto and Fiona Martin
Coasting Along: An Immersive 360-Degree Experience
Kat Hunt and Joy Reeves (SCONC award winner)
Superhero Water vs. The Evil Fatbergs
Paula Buchanan, Jessika Raisor, and Ryan Powell
Thanks to Our Coaches
- John Besley, Michigan State University
- Anthony Dudo, The University of Texas at Austin
- Tamara Poles, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center
- Jory Weintraub, Duke Science and Society Initiative
Thanks to Our Judges
- Floyd J. Hall, Science Gallery Atlanta
- Corey Powell, Science Literacy Project
- Checo J. Rorie, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University; SCONC
- Amanda Stanley, COMPASS
More about Science Talk: Science Talk is a professional society that empowers and inspires the science communication community to expand their communication potential and affect the world. Science Talk provides professional development and networking opportunities through annual conferences, blogs, community discussions, online courses, and more. www.sciencetalk.org. On Twitter: @ScienceTalkOrg.