SciComm Hotline

The world is chaotic; there is grief and heartbreak. And in the midst of it all, we’re dealing with misinformation and conflicting perceptions. Listen to Steph and Rey trying to make sense of the world based on their identities as immigrants, science communicators, and weirdos. Learn about confirmation bias, cognitive dissonance, motivated reasoning, and tools that can help you understand your audience better. Learn more about Rey and Steph here:https://scicommhotline.comSubmit your gossip or questions to drama@scicommhotline.comMentioned in the episode:For Hamid, the brave firefighterhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DQl9DAFDno6/Ethan Zuckerman on Truthinesshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8AiWoJLJj0Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Communityhttps://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Bowling-Alone-Revised-and-Updated/Robert-D-Putnam/9781508230595Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism―Understanding the Social Science of Cult Influencehttps://www.amazon.com/Cultish-Language-Fanaticism-Amanda-Montell/dp/0062993151Irony of satire: Political ideology and the motivation to see what you want to see in The Colbert Reporthttps://www.instagram.com/p/DUbNhYziXWH/https://journalistsresource.org/politics-and-government/irony-satire-political-ideology-colbert-report/Festinger, End of the world, and cognitive dissonancehttps://www.instagram.com/p/DUWFHOLCQ4M/SNL Sketch: Mom Confessionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wQhY5CMMl4Harmony Lab’s Narrative Observatory:https://narrativeobservatory.org/

The deficit model of communication, strategic messaging, and “THE EVIL BIG APPLE INDUSTRY” are all things Steph and Rey talk about in this episode. Listen to them discuss examples of how communicators could strategize to have impactful messages and break down strategic SciComm principles.   Deficit model of communicationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_deficit_modelStrategic Science Communication: A Guide to Setting the Right Objectives for More Effective Public Engagementhttps://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Science-Communication-Objectives-Engagement-ebook/dp/B09QNSGDTYhttp://strategicsciencecommunication.com/stratscicomm-comics/Science Audience Engagement: An Audience Research Collaboration Guide for Media Professionals, Evaluators and Communication Researchershttps://www.kqed.org/crackingthecode

Another episode of Rey and Steph oversharing. You’re welcome. Listen to the two catch up after a mini-hiatus, chatting about all things from TMI health updates and science communication of taboo topics, to relieving grad school trauma and lessons learned.*Correction: it wasn’t an award, it was Sagan’s nomination rejection to the National Academy of Sciences.Check out these resources they mentioned in the episode:Naomi Koh Belic: Hot Girls Have IBShttps://www.instagram.com/reel/CgOZxNVjfd3/The Hello PhD podcast with Josh Hall and Daniel Arneman, interview with Mónica feliu Mójerhttps://hellophd.com/2018/05/092-making-time-science-communication-monica-feliu-mojer/The Carl Sagan Effecthttps://www.jneurosci.org/content/jneuro/36/7/2077.full.pdfThank you for joining us for this experiment of a podcast and for tuning in to our creative outlet. Just two friends talking crap about all things science and how it's communicated. Hope you join us next year as we try to explore more areas of SciComm with professionals.

In this conversation, Reyhaneh and Stephanie discuss the importance of authenticity and self-awareness for personal and branded science content. We emphasize the need to recognize and embrace one's true values rather than projecting a false image. The discussion highlights how individuals can leverage their unique traits, such as humor and vulnerability, to create a genuine connection with others. And how the rules change when you're representing a large science organization. Learn more about Rey and Steph at: http://scicommhotline.comSubmit your creep story to drama@scicommhotline.comStudies mentioned:Assessing the Credibility and Authenticity of Social Media Content for Applications in Health Communication: Scoping Reviewhttps://www.jmir.org/2020/7/e17296/Constructing and influencing perceived authenticity in science communication: Experimenting with narrative https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0226711Link in Bio Substack: https://www.milkkarten.net/

AI: Rey and Steph are a bit embarrassed to admit they use it, but they do. Listen to them talking about all the ways AI comes in handy in media production, research, and job search. They also talk about the dark side of AI, some of the pitfalls and philosophical thoughts around it! Learn more about Rey and Steph at:http://scicommhotline.comMessage your hot takes to drama@scicommhotline.com More about the Jackson Summit here;https://www.jacksonwild.org/Follow Rey’s 30-day ChatGPT “Going Viral” planhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DPTuSgIADFN/Measuring AI Ability to Complete Long Taskshttps://metr.org/blog/2025-03-19-measuring-ai-ability-to-complete-long-tasks/ Palisade Research (AI whistleblower org)https://palisaderesearch.org/ More Perfect Union: On AI and energy consumptionhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DPTv9Mkjrgu/?img_index=1The Oatmeal: Let’s Talk About AIhttps://theoatmeal.com/comics/ai_artInstagram Reel on the ChatGPT exchangehttps://www.instagram.com/p/DPeshTAgdNm/The white paper for The National Academies of Sciences “Sustained Public Engagement in Science and Engineering via Digital Spaces and Communities” here:https://overdeck.org/portfolios/spotlight/nasem-sustained-public-engagement-in-science-and-engineering-via-digital-spaces-and-communities/NotebookLMhttps://notebooklm.google/

Steph and Rey go down a rabbit hole of their comedy grievances. With lots of examples from social media, they dissect what it is that annoys and worries them about how we consume comedy, while also discussing what they hope for in comedy.

How much does your audience know about you? How much should they know about you? In this episode, Rey and Steph discuss a listener’s experience of discovering a science influencer’s PR strategy and how that connects with a new paper on trust in science: "Lying Increases Trust in Science."  Learn more about Rey and Steph at:http://scicommhotline.comMessage your hot takes to drama@scicommhotline.com Find the paper we discuss, “Lying increases trust in science,” here:https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11186-025-09635-1

Who are we, truly, without our friends and communities? This week, Steph and Rey share some stories from the heart: Rey reflects on her trip to Hiroshima and the forming of an unlikely friendship. Steph shares how a scene from Avatar: The Last Airbender broke her (in the most wholesome way possible). Listen to the podcast and learn more about Steph and Rey’s principles of SciComm community building and red flags to be aware of.  Learn more about Rey and Steph at:http://scicommhotline.comMessage your hot takes to drama@scicommhotline.com Here’s the Aspen Institute panel that sent Steph over the edge and led to us scrapping the episode: https://www.youtube.com/live/SJD1GOyInyA?si=j4Ol_XAaL4Ogo0Qp Here are some communities we mentioned, and you should check out: US-Japan Leadership Program (USJLP) – A binational leadership initiative convened by the United States-Japan Foundation that brings together emerging American and Japanese changemakers for immersive conferences, building a lifelong network of Delegates and Fellows: us-jf.org/en/usjlpComSciCon – A series of science communication workshops organized by graduate students for graduate students: comscicon.orgSTEM Success Summit – An event providing skills training, workforce development, and internship/apprenticeship services: https://www.stemedia.com/experience/stem-success-summitNational Geographic Society – A leading nonprofit focused on exploration, education, storytelling, and environmental science: nationalgeographic.orgJackson Wild Media Lab – A competitive, fully funded, immersive nine-day filmmaking and science storytelling workshop by Jackson Wild: https://www.jacksonwild.org/media-lab?utm_source=chatgpt.com AAAS Mass Media Fellowship (also known as the AAAS Science & Engineering Mass Media Fellowship) – A 10-week summer program placing science, engineering, and mathematics students and postdocs at media organizations: massmedia.secure-platform.comCivic Science Fellowship – A program that embeds emerging leaders in organizations at the interface of science and society, under collaborations like the Rita Allen Foundation's Civic Science Fellows: civicsciencefellows.orgGilliam Fellowship (HHMI) – The Gilliam Fellows Program launches promising PhD students into impactful scientific research careers while fostering inclusive training environments: https://www.hhmi.org/programs/gilliam-fellows

Yes, another episode of Rey and Steph nag about job-search miseries, but hey, that’s just life. However, they also delve into a discussion of vulnerability, its benefits and pitfalls, and conclude with the research-based principles of storytelling: recall, fluency, and framing.  Learn more about Rey and Steph here:https://www.phuturedoctors.com/scicomm/hotline  This is Dr. Nathan Walter’s Lab. We had a Story Craft session between researchers and National Geographic Explorers to talk about principles of science storytelling:https://com-psi.northwestern.edu/Veritasium’s “How One Company Secretly Poisoned The Planet”https://youtu.be/SC2eSujzrUY?si=H1wM7BZPztMm3m7h More Perfect Union “How Corporations Are Secretly Poisoning Our Food Supply”https://youtu.be/Y0lsLnXX4U8?si=-WvYfElpMY3XICOo Human Footprint, Season 2, Episode 1https://www.pbs.org/video/shelf-life-3atwv4/

Your SciComm friends, Steph and Rey, are tired. They are grieving the status quo, but they are also trying to find their place in the world of SciComm. Listen as they discuss their sadness, as well as digital media, its best practices, and how our algorithmic overlord makes it challenging to predict what content can be successful. Learn more about Rey and Steph here:https://www.phuturedoctors.com/scicomm/hotlineFind the white paper and panel on “Sustained Public Engagement in Science and Engineering via Digital Spaces and Communities” here:https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/44757_06-2025_convocation-on-the-status-of-informal-science-and-engineering-educationAre Women a Missing Audience for Science on YouTube? An Exploratory Studyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK4qINgpMykSciComm Bites: Science Communication Digesthttps://scicommbites.org/Civic Science Mediahttps://civicsciencemedia.org/“Cursing means you're honest, according to a study”https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communication/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2021.610920/full

Has anyone ever copied your SciComm content without crediting you? Has anyone ever been inspired by your content and created something new, and given you credit for it? In this episode, Rey and Steph discuss the challenges and nuances of content replication, intellectual humility, and existing in the SciComm world as a woman. Learn more about Rey and Steph here: https://www.phuturedoctors.com/scicomm/hotlineGreater Good Science Center white paper on intellectual humility: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_does_intellectual_humility_look_likeHumblebragging: A distinct—and ineffective—self-presentation strategy, https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-40996-001

In this episode, hosts Stephanie Castillo and Reyhaneh Maktoufi explore the complexities of competence in science communication. They delve into the importance of credibility and trust in the scientific community, particularly in the context of social media influencers who may misrepresent their expertise. They discuss the ethical implications of using valid science communication principles for marketing purposes, the importance of credibility and trust in science, and the role of sponsorship in shaping public perception. Veritasium’s PFAS video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC2eSujzrUYScience Sam’s Instagram account:https://www.instagram.com/science.sam/Here are some of the studies they referenced:Study Black female scientists being preceives as less warm and competent “Race and gender biases persist in public perceptions of scientists’ credibility.”https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-87321-zDual promotion strategies where you promote others alongside yourselfDual-promotion: Bragging better by promoting peers.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37561455/Love this quote from the paper “Should We Retire the Concept of Source Credibility? An Experimental Exploration of When Credibility Is (and Is Not) Useful.” The concept of competence and credibility “has lost some of its swag” https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/10755470251334094“Does the CSR Message Matter? Untangling the Relationship Between Corporate–Nonprofit Partnerships, Created Fit Messages, and Activist Evaluations”https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0893318919897059

In their first episode, Rey and Steph talk about being a hater, but in a productive way! Listen to their hot takes, their vision for this podcast, and requests for their audience. If you’re curious about the resources they mentioned, here’s the list:Learn more about Rey and Steph here:https://scicommhotline.comComSciCon is the conference where Steph and Rey found a lasting SciComm community:https://www.comscicon.orgRare is one of the great organizations that works with entertainment industries to inform their work through consulting, evaluation, and more:https://rare.org/program/climate-culture/entertainment-lab/This is The Landscape Of Science Communication In The Video Content Creation Community: Connecting Research To Practice, where some participants mentioned they never heard of the science of SciComm:https://nnsi.northwestern.edu/landscape-science-communication/This is the University of Wisconsin-Madison's PhD in SciComm program:https://lsc.wisc.edu/academic-programs/ph-d-in-science-communication/Here's a study that discusses the elements of trust: "What are you assessing when you measure “trust” in scientists with a direct measure?”https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09636625231161302