February 25, 2022
Finding the story in your science
Dr. Caitlin Looby
Science writer, editor, and educator
Abstract
Storytelling is an essential part of human life. Stories hold our histories and they are how we connect with each other. And it’s the same with science. Whether you are interested in a career in academia, industry or science communication, learning how to talk about science is important to connect with each other and make an impact with the work that you do. Today’s talk will focus on what it means to be a science communicator, how to connect with different audiences and how to refine your storytelling skills. I will also touch on how to juggle graduate school while also working on SciComm skills.
Biosketch
Caitlin Looby is a science writer, editor and educator. She’s written for radio, university media and local, international and online news. She also wrote an op-ed on climate change in cloud forests for The New York Times as well as feature articles for outdoor magazines, among others. She’s also a freelance editor where she’s edited books, dissertations, poetry collections and even restaurant menus. And here at UMN, she teaches a science communication class and workshops.
Caitlin’s trained as a scientist who spent twelve years hiking up mountains in the tropics to study microbes, soil and climate change. She holds a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from the University of Connecticut, a master’s degree in biotechnology from Kean University and a doctorate degree in biology from the University of California, Irvine. One fun fact: she’s lived in every time zone in the continental US. You can follow her @caitlooby on Twitter or check out her website caitlinlooby.com.