Unintended Initiative
Unintended Initiative
Producing an immersive educational exhibition on sustainability.
Through The Plenary, Co., my team is creating an ambitious, interactive educational experience to support sustainable consumer and citizen choices. In addition to a story-driven art exhibition, several interactive rooms will be created as a novel way for the public to engage with critical themes and practical actions.
An open source, DIY version of the show will also be created for distribution.
Public Sustainability Campaigns
Public Sustainability Campaigns
Designing the visuals for a psychology-driven sustainability campaign.
Under the guidance of Dr. Diana Tamir of the Princeton Social Neuroscience Lab, I created four series of graphic designs driven by distinct psychological principles.
These designs will be used as part of an experimental campaign to determine which approach results in less energy consumption in real world communities.
Food City
Food City
Developing a game about the food system.
The Plenary. Co., in collaboration with game designer Jessica Creane, is organizing and synthesizing the most important themes, stories, and evidence about the past, present, and future of a sustainable and equitable food system.
This content is being translated into a board game in collaboration with artist, Maria Natasha. It will be produced by a union-run printer working at the cutting-edge of sustainable supply chains.
The People’s Science
The People's Science
Designing and piloting a platform to connect scientists and the public.
“The People’s Science” website, first launched by Dr. Jamil Zaki, was a platform for scientists to write brief summaries of their work for non-experts. I took the lead on the project in 2012, resulting in the design of a custom-built community interface for scientists and non-scientists to directly interact around new findings.
Prior to sunsetting the project in 2018 to focus on new initiatives, it was featured by several major news outlets including NPR.
#ShareYourScience Tour
#ShareYourScience Tour
Leading a multi-campus tour to teach scientists public communication skills.
I created a three-part interactive workshop and talk series that were presented at institutions nationwide, including UC Davis, Fleet Science Center, University of Oregon, Portland State University, Harvard University, and ComSciCon. Each workshop was organized in collaboration with a team of local science communicators.
Additionally, I presented the content as a guest lecturer in Dr. David Eagleman’s seminar at Stanford University.
Science Communication Framework
Science Communication Framework
Constructing a new model for science communication.
Synthesizing insights from experts and decades of scholarship, I built a model updated for the needs of 21st century communities and issues. This model served as the foundation of The People’s Science, a nonprofit started in 2013 with the aim of improving the relationship between scientists and the public.
ANDL Lab Tours
ANDL Lab Tours
Creating a behind-the-scenes lab tour program for under-resourced students.
With the support of the Affective Neuroscience & Development Lab, I created an interactive workshop with five stations hosted by Harvard scientists. Local classrooms were invited to tour the lab, see their teacher’s brain via fMRI, learn about adolescent brains (and play with a few real ones), and meet-and-greet with the scientists.
OHSU Traveling Exhibition
OHSU Traveling Exhibition
Creating an interactive traveling exhibition to teach the public about the brain.
In 2011, I led a team of artists and scientists in the construction of a multi-component, mobile exhibition for the Portland Alcohol Research Center (PARC). The exhibition included a custom arcade-style game, a large touch-screen game, multiple analog activities, and life size infographics.
MARC Multimedia Exhibition
MARC Multimedia Exhibition
Creating a multimedia experience for public health education.
In 2012, I worked with the Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center (MARC) to create a series of multimedia installations featuring custom video by Emmy-award winning educational editor, Brandon Pousley.
The exhibit showcased the work of MARC researchers on addition and health and has been used for public engagement with the institute.
LINK Framework
LINK Framework
Collaborating with learning scientists to construct a working model for interdisciplinary synthesis.
Alongside researchers at Harvard Graduate School of Education, I co-created a model for responsible, non-expert interdisciplinary inquiry that analyzed research and communication best practices in two phases: synthesis for self and synthesis for others.
This work led to the development of the LINK project and resources, which was implemented in several undergraduate general studies courses across Harvard.
HILT Program for Responsible Engagement with Science
HILT Program for Responsible Engagement with Science
Creating an award-winning course on research literacy at Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Using insights from both the TILT and LINK projects, I constructed and taught a course to aid graduate students in developing the skills necessary to responsibly and effectively analyze research and scholarship, with an emphasis on non-expert applications.
The course was offered through Dr. Todd Rose’s “Educational Neuroscience” course from 2013-2015. In 2015, it was selected as a Spark Grant recipient by the Harvard Initiative of Learning & Teaching with the goal of scaling it university-wide.
“Knowing Better” Workshops
"Knowing Better" Workshops
Creating workshops for educators, policymakers, and the general public.
Using the TILT framework, I designed a six-part workshop featuring lectures, case studies, frameworks, and interactive exercises. These workshops were presented at conferences, universities, and institutions nationwide, including Learning & the Brain, Emerson College, Harvard University, and several nonprofit organizations.
These materials are now being translated into experiential resources called “Knowing Better” through The Plenary, Co.
TILT Framework
TILT Framework
Developing a framework for contemporary information literacy.
With education researcher, Maya Bialik, and educator, Andrew Watson, I built the “TILT (Twenty-first century Information Literacy Tools)” framework. It synthesizes scholarship from across fields to identify the six key skills and dispositions for effectively navigating today’s information ecosystems.
The framework was featured in “Four-Dimensional Learning”, a book published by the Center for Curriculum Redesign.
SF Design Week
SF Design Week
Bringing together leaders on evidence-driven social change.
From creating a course on “Brain Research & Society” to collaborating with the Middle Eastern Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and MercyCorps on social change leadership development to speaking with audiences at swissNex, 21st Century Academic Forum Conference, and the Post March Salon, I am an advocate for informed social change strategies.
In summer 2019, I organized a sold out event for San Francisco Design Week featuring leaders from the social impact design community.
I Am a Scientist Program
I Am a Scientist Program
Co-creating a program to break STEM stereotypes in classrooms.
“I Am A Scientist” is an educational initiative designed to bring the stories and science of real world researchers to classrooms. This project counters limiting narratives about what science is and who can do it, demystifies career pathways, and connects students and researchers to additional resources.
The project is currently being distributed by The Plenary, Co. to over 1500 classrooms nationwide.
It’s Only Human Exhibition
It's Only Human Exhibition
Creating an art and science exhibition on human bias.
“It’s Only Human” featured 25 exhibits ranging from art installations to interactive experiments to immersive technologies to a meet & greet with renowned psychologist, Dr. Mahzarin Banaji.
50+ artists, scientists, educators, and technologists contributed to the creation of a novel approach to adult learning, while hundreds of participants gathered to enjoy food, drinks, and a DJed lounge designed to support openness and reflection.
March for Science x Washington DC
March for Science x Washington DC
Organizing the program for the 2018 March for Science in Washington, DC.
The 2018 March for Science rally was held at the National Mall and hosted 18 renowned speakers, including former President of Planned Parenthood, Dr. Leana Wen, astrophysicist, Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi, CEO of AAAS, Dr. Rush Holt, founder of Hip Hop Caucus, Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., and pioneer of Science and Technology Studies, Dr. Sheila Jasanoff.
SIGNS Summit
SIGNS Summit
Creating and producing a global summit on science advocacy.
The Science in Government, Institutions & Society (SIGNS) Summit gathered emerging and established leaders in service of science advocacy and justice. The 3-day event, held in Chicago, IL, included a reception at Field Museum, 75+ speakers across 5 tracks, a science comedy show, and partnerships with leading organizations including NOVA and Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.
March for Science x San Francisco
March for Science x San Francisco
Leading the creation of a 30+ speaker program for over 50,000 participants.
The 2017 San Francisco March for Science was one of the largest in the world. I managed the program, speakers, volunteers, and implementation of a three-part event. The rally featured renowned speakers such as former Chief Data Scientist of the US, Dr. DJ Patil, and popular TV host, Adam Savage. The 50K+ person march ended with a science festival with community partners, activities, a concert, and additional panels and speakers.
My fellow organizers and I were recognized with a Certificate of Honor from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
Community Book Tour
Community Book Tour
Organizing a book tour featuring voices from the movement.
Washington, DC, Powell’s Books in Portland, OR, and MIT Press Bookstore in Cambridge, MA.
In each city, multiple contributors to the book — ranging from leading experts to grassroots organizers — were given a platform to share their story.