On behalf of the RCIScience, the University of Waterloo's Centre for Career Action invites you to join a conversation with five science communicators discussing their career pathways. You'll get a snapshot of the variety of careers the field of science communication has to offer, learn about the role your degree(s) play in pursuing such a career, get advice about breaking into the field, and have the opportunity to ask any questions you might have about careers in science communication.
This panel is offered as part of a project aimed at scaling up RCIScience's Science Communication Certificate and with the support of an NSERC Science Communication Skills grant (pilot).
About the Speakers
Moderator: Calvin Chan, Career Advisor, University of Waterloo
Calvin Chan is a career advisor by day and a science communicator by night. He has a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology and used to work as a researcher in a past life. As a career advisor for the University of Waterloo, he loves nothing more than to chat with students about anything and everything career-related - virtually, of course. Outside advising, he loves bringing to life stories about humans and science across a variety of platforms including museum exhibits, radio segments, news writing, magazine features and more. His work has been published on platforms like Buzzfeed, nominated for multiple Canadian University Press awards, and featured on reading lists such as the Alberta Magazine Publisher’s Stories for Change.
Adam Zunder, Medical Animator, INVIVO Communications Inc.
Adam Zunder is a graduate of the Masters of Science in Biomedical Communication (MScBMC) program at the University of Toronto - a unique but fitting path considering his love of art and design, combined with an undergraduate degree in biology and psychology. His goal as an effective scientific visualizer is to bring the beauty of the natural world to light in ways that are captivating, informative and scientifically accurate. Adam currently works as a medical animator at INVIVO Communications, a digital healthcare agency that aims to improve the quality of life by accelerating the understanding of science. His role involves bridging the gap between art and science, distilling complex scientific ideas into accessible visual stories using cutting-edge technology such as AR, VR, and other animation apps to bring science to life.
Annie Prud’homme-Généreux, Director, Continuing Studies and Executive Education, Capilano University, Former Vice President Science, TELUS World of Science Edmonton
Annie Prud’homme-Généreux began her involvement in science communication by working at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, where she revelled in pulling the hairs off high schoolers’ arms with the help of sea stars.
She served as reviewer and chair of the NSERC PromoScience grant competition for several years, gaining a bird’s eye view of the wonderful science communication activities happening across the country. It was at this time that Annie was recruited to the judging panel for the best book award of the Canadian Association of Science Writers. She took an interest in science writing, publishing pieces on marine biology, forestry, and black matter, eventually winning international astronomy writing competition for five years in a row (and getting paid as a freelance science writer – woohoo!).
This eventually led Annie to hone her writing through the Banff Science Communication Program, the Santa Fe Science Writing Program, and a Master of Science Writing at Johns Hopkins University.
In 2015 she seized the opportunity to influence the scientific discourse of an entire city as Vice President of Science at TELUS World of Science – Edmonton, one of Canada’s largest science centres. There she oversaw the development of the school and public programs, the planetarium, the maker lab, and the re-design of several new galleries.
Neel Dhingani, Medical Writer and Learning Solutions Designer, Metrix
Neel Dhingani is currently working as a medical writer and learning solutions designer at Metrix, an agency specializing in professional training and coaching. He primarily works with pharmaceutical clients to develop innovative learning solutions, but also works on various projects aimed at learning strategy. Prior to joining Metrix, Neel held various roles where he developed essential skills in stakeholder management, project management, research, and communication (oral and written). He has a Master’s and Bachelor of Science, both in biochemistry, from the University of Toronto and McMaster University, respectively. Graduate studies helped build a great foundation of essential skills for Neel to succeed in his current role.
Neel is also pursuing part-time studies in Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs and Quality Operations at Seneca College. This program is helping to supplement his current role at Metrix in understanding some of the functions within the pharmaceutical industry.
Ashley Miller, Family Experience Coordinator, THEMUSEUM
Ashley Miller always had a passion for both the arts and sciences. She received a Bachelors in Marine and Freshwater Biology and a Ph.D. in Integrative Biology while practicing her visual art and writing skills on the side. She later also enrolled for the Science Communication Graduate Diploma at Laurentian University to jumpstart into this field. Ashley is currently a science communicator and museum educator based in Ontario. Much of the work she does now relates to STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics). She believes that discipline integration through STEAM can provide different audiences with multiple meaningful entry-points that make science more engaging, accessible, and relevant. Ashley continues to hone her creative art skills for science communication with writing and visual media projects. For Ashley, science communication was the perfect bridge between generating science knowledge and sharing that knowledge and was a way to combine academic training and creative arts skills in unique and exciting ways.
Miranda Stahn, Co-founder of Science Networkers
As a science communicator, Miranda Stahn has centralized her career around ensuring companies like Interface Fluidics can effectively communicate their innovations to the larger ecosystem. Be it working for companies like AbCellera or Genome Alberta, she has always been passionate about ensuring great scientists get the support they need to take their ideas to the next level. Miranda’s technical background involved a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science, both completed at the University of Alberta, with research interests spanning from traditional cell biology to biomanufacturing and clean technology development for the energy sector.