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
“ 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 SPEAKER
Fiona Martin is a Graphic Artist at The Seattle Times with 20 years of experience in visual science communication
PLENARY SPEAKER
Taina Litwak is a scientific and Board-Certified medical illustrator. She has been a full-time illustrator for 40 years, primarily in Washington DC area.
Visualizing Climate Science
“During the pandemic, five GNSI members (Kalliopi Monoyios, Kirsten Carlson, Taina Litwak, Tania Marien, and Fiona Martin) coauthored article about visual climate science communication, published in an open-access book by Springer. We’ll delve into our process behind the article, and our analysis of what is working and what is not. As SciComm professionals, we 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 issues fatigue, improve decision-making, and encourage people to act in a way that makes sense to them and their community. Taina, a Science Illustrator recently with USDA and Fiona, Graphic Artist and Science Illustrator at The Seattle Time will discuss visual science career paths with communication teams in academia, government, and formal and informal education and the growing need for illustrations and visualizations of climate science. They will break down some practical strategies for creating more effective, engaging climate visuals, and how to represent abstract, often invisible processes. They will share examples of successful (and unsuccessful) climate graphics, as well as opportunities for collaboration. Then they will open the floor for audience participation.
Bring your thoughts and questions, and be ready to join a robust discussion about climate visuals!”