Museum of Science Announces Inaugural Cohort of Digital Science Communication Fellows

Scientific experts and digital creators to be paired to increase reach and resonance of trustworthy scientific information
 

BOSTON – The Museum of Science today announced the inaugural cohort selected for its Digital Science Communication Fellowship, a national program as part of the Museum of Science’s Global Science Creator Network, dedicated to strengthening scientific communication and public understanding. The fellowship pairs scientific experts with influential digital creators to help scientists better leverage social communications platforms, creating greater visibility and impact around their work.  

The fellowship is designed to equip scientific leaders with the tools to successfully communicate their work with clarity, accuracy, and cultural resonance. The initiative arrives at a critical moment: while 89% of Americans view scientists as intelligent, only 45% consider them effective communicators. By bridging this "communication gap," the fellowship aims to combat misinformation and restore public trust through digital storytelling, behavioral science, and civic-minded strategy. Working alongside mentors from top-tier academic, media, and scientific institutions, fellows will master the art of reaching diverse audiences across digital platforms.  

“Through our Science Communicator Fellowship, a key initiative of our Global Science Creator Network, we’re training scientists, researchers, and experts to communicate more effectively on digital platforms and connect with audiences interested in their work,” said Tim Ritchie. “By pairing them with experienced digital mentors, we’re meeting people where they already are and building trust in science through stories that inspire active hope.”  

Out of hundreds of applications, 46 “mentees” (scientific experts) and “mentors” (digital creators) were selected, representing fields including physics, engineering, neuroscience, and more.  

Over six months, digital mentors and mentees will work together in teams to co-design new, scalable approaches to digital-first science communication – from social media to podcasts to blogging – that inspires greater public trust in scientific institutions while also generating public excitement about cutting edge scientific research and discoveries.   

This fellowship represents the next phase of the Museum’s digital-first transformation. By integrating advanced storytelling with innovative digital products, the Museum has expanded its connection with audiences far beyond its physical walls. The museum now reaches hundreds of millions of people annually in-person, in schools and online.  

The inaugural fellows are:

Mentors (Digital Creators):  
Allen Pan, Allen Pan (YouTube)  
Jessica Andrade, Mass General Brigham
Ben Rein, Mind Science Foundation  
Nathan Harpst, SunshineNate  
Vanessa Hill, PBS, YouTube Originals, Nebula Originals, ABC  
Athena Brensberger, Astroathens, LLC  
Louis Weisz, Weisz (YouTube)  
Joe Hanson, Be Smart  
Ben Brown, Going Green Media
Ciara Doyle, Going Green Media
Madison McKay, Moss Landing Marine Labs  
Adrian Smith, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences / North Carolina State University  
Matthew Walker, University of California, Berkeley  

Mentees (Scientific Experts):  
Bridget Alex, Harvard University / SAPIENS Magazine 
Rita Blaik, California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA  
Eti Ben Simon, University of California, Berkeley  
Stephanie Caty, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  
Devjoy Dev, New York University  
Kelsey Doerksen, Arizona State University / University of Cape Town  
Christian Ferko, Northeastern University / Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions  
Anna Frebel, Massachusetts Institute of Technology  
Caitlin Friesen, Georgia State University  
Marianne Hamel, MD, PhD, State of New Jersey / Jersey Shore Forensics  
Ryan Helcoski, Utah State University  
Jarrod Hicks, University of Rochester  
Rhowan Ho, Scripps Institution of Oceanography / University of California San Diego  
Lindsay Rene House, University of Chicago / NSF–Simons SkAI Institute for AI in Astrophysics  / Adler Planetarium 
Valerie Hsieh, Columbia University  
KeShawn Ivory, Vanderbilt University  
Carlee Jackson, Loggerhead Marinelife Center / Minorities in Shark Sciences 
Eman Khwaja, UMass Dartmouth / Boston Harbor City Cruises / New England Aquarium  
Aline Maybank, George Washington University / Milken Institute School of Public Health  
Ryan Manzuk, Princeton University / Lighthouse Reports  
Igor Morić, Princeton University  
Lauren Benjamin Mushro, Sapien AI / ELISAVA / Aspen Institute  
Jazlyn Nketia, Cognitive Horizons LLC  
Michael J. Ormsbee, Florida State University 
Tirth Patel, University of California, Los Angeles  
Giovanni Petri, Network Science Institute, Northeastern University London / CENTAI Institute  
Daniel Reid Tabin, Harvard University  
Alex Troutman, N8tureal Environmental LLC  
Kasey Wagoner, North Carolina State University  
Benjamin Balas, North Dakota State University  
Maggie Seida, The Paul Walker Foundation  
Michael Stamatikos, Ohio State University / NASA Goddard Space Flight Center  
Samantha Tramontano, City University of New York, York College / American Museum of Natural History  

About the Museum of Science, Boston  

As science and technology increasingly shape our lives, the Museum of Science strives to equip and inspire everyone to use science for the global good. Among the world’s largest science centers and New England’s most attended cultural institution, we engage nearly five million people a year—at Science Park and in museums around the world, in classrooms, and online. Established in 1830, the Museum is home to such iconic attractions as the Theater of Electricity, the Charles Hayden Planetarium, and the Mugar Omni Theater. The Museum influences formal and informal STEM education through research and national advocacy, as a strong community partner and loyal educator resource, and as a leader in universal design, developing exhibits and programming accessible to all.  

Learn more at /science-communication-fellowship and follow @museumofscience on all major social platforms.