Visual SciComm Conference 2025
Keynote and Plenary Speakers
This year we have invited speakers from all sectors of Visual Science Communication to give us a keynote and a plenary talk on various topics.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Entomologist, Science Illustrator, Professor of Biology, Author, TED Talk Presenter, and Lecturer
Entomologist at
the Intersection of Science and Art
Monday, July 14th
“I revel in insect behavior, sleep biology, and the ways in which insects have affected humans throughout history.……I study sleep in societies of insects, create entomo-art, and am fascinated by the intersection of science and art. I revel in uncovering ways in which insects affect human culture, and feel most at home either in a forest surrounded by insects, or in a natural history museum of oddities, where I once created exhibits.
I studied entomology at Cornell University and the University of Arizona received a PhD at the University of Texas at Austin, fabricated natural history exhibits at Chase Studio and the American Museum of Natural History, and joined the University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse as a professor of Biology in 2012.”
PLENARY SPEAKERS
Fiona Martin is a graphic artist and science illustrator at The Seattle Times with 20 years of experience in visual science communication.
Taina Litwak is a scientific and board-certified medical illustrator, recently retired from USDA. She has been a full-time illustrator for 40 years, primarily in the Washington, D.C. area.
Visualizing
Climate Science
Tuesday, July 15th
“During the pandemic, five GNSI members—Kalliopi Monoyios, Kirsten Carlson, Taina Litwak, Tania Marien, and Fiona Martin—coauthored an article published in an open-access book about visual climate science communication (Springer, 2024). Fiona and Taina will delve into the group’s process behind the article, and an analysis of what is working and what is not in climate communication. SciComm professionals have a unique opportunity to transcend language and cultural barriers, learning differences, and knowledge or skill gaps. Well-designed visuals can deepen engagement, combat climate fatigue, improve decision-making, and encourage people to act in a way that makes sense to them and their community. Fiona and Taina will talk about visual science career paths with communication teams in academia, government, media, and formal and informal education. They’ll share some practical strategies for creating more effective, engaging climate visuals, and how to represent abstract, often invisible processes. Then they’ll open the floor for audience participation. Bring your thoughts and questions and be ready to join a robust discussion about climate visuals!”