Icebird Studio

Science Communication & Outreach

Science communication — especially regarding polar science and oceanography — is my driving passion, and I’m especially interested in how narrative, art, and animation can reach, engage, and inspire a broader audience.

I’m the veteran of two Antarctic research cruises, acting in the role of Education and Outreach Officer. I am now actively seeking my next polar research expedition.

I also have a joint science communication venture — Pixel Movers & Makers — with my collaborator, software engineer and animator, Kevin Pluck.

EXPEDITIONS

SNOWBIRDS Transect

In 2017, I sailed with the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) for a joint NSF-funded expedition between URI-GSO, UCSB, and the University of Otago. We journeyed from McMurdo Station, Antarctica, aboard the RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmer and northward through the Southern Ocean. We studied diatoms—a kind of phytoplankton. We want to understand the processes that have driven atmospheric CO₂ changes in the past so we can better understand how humanity might tackle rising CO₂ levels in an uncertain future.

ICEBERG ALLEY

In 2019, I sailed with the International Ocean Discovery Program on Expedition 382 Iceberg Alley and Subantarctic Ice and Ocean Dynamics, a two-month expedition in the Scotia Sea, in the area of highest Antarctic iceberg concentration known as Iceberg Alley. Our work will help us better understand how the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) may behave and how much and how fast sea levels will rise in our warming, changing world. 

As Education and Outreach Officer, I blogged about our voyage and science operations, facilitated live broadcasts between the ship and schools/universities, answered questions from schools and the public, managed the social media accounts and created content, built (SNOWBIRDS) and maintained (Iceberg Alley) the expedition website, worked with our scientists as a developmental editor and writing mentor, taught science communication and social media workshops to the science team, and visually chronicled our journey in photographs and illustrations.

I also worked on book projects and have two books underway about these journeys and our science. I will be seeking a publisher for these later this year.

If you'd like to know more or have me come speak to your school or group about my experience or about science communication, please contact me.