Scicomm Portfolio

A (somewhat exhaustive) overview of my work across science writing, speaking, conference leadership, and public outreach.

Science Writing

Astronomy Content Strategist for NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory (2021 – Present)
- Lead development and implementation of Rubin’s social media strategy and content production.
- Author and edit content for rubinobservatory.org.
- Conceptualized and produce Rubin Voices: an initiative highlighting the diverse people of Rubin.
- Product lead for Orbitviewer: a 3D Solar System visualization showcasing Rubin discoveries of asteroids and comets.


SciCommBites 2021 – 2024	Co-founder, Admin, & Writer Conceptualized and launched a blog dedicated to summarizing recent papers in the science of science communication. Trained a team of 20+ contributing authors. Read my articles
AAAS Mass Media Fellow 2019	Science reporter Pitched and wrote news articles about environmental science, astronomy, and space science for the Indianapolis Star (including 1 front-page article). Read clips
Astrobites 2018 – 2020	Authored and edited monthly posts summarizing new astrophysics research, interviewed keynote speakers, and provided live meeting coverage. Read my articles
RELATE (UMich) 2017 – 2019	Co-Coordinator & Writer Co-coordinated a team of eight writers to highlight UMich graduate student research through written profile pieces. Read articles
Michigan Science Writers 2017 – 2019	Writer & Editor Authored feature post summarizing Dark Energy Survey cosmology results for a non-expert audience; edited incoming site posts. Read article
Freelance & Contributed 2017–Present	Developed digital and print content for organizations including Veritasium, the Union of Concerned Scientists, The Planetary Society, and Natural History Magazine.

Jan/May 2026: “An Evening of Cosmic Discovery: Rubin Observatory Showcase” – Arizona Science Center (Keynote)
Feb 2026: “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once (the Sequel): Brought to you by Rubin Observatory” – Astronomy on Tap, Ithaca, NY
Nov 2022: “How to Find Things That Go ‘Blip’ in the Night” – Astronomy on Tap, Los Angeles
Sep 2022: Panelist, Astrophysicist Q&A – Sequoia National Park Dark Sky Festival
Jan 2018: “Bowling Balls vs. Ping Pong Balls: How the Solar System’s Smallest Members Reveal Its History” – Nerd Nite Ann Arbor
Mar 2017: “From Dwarf to Super-Earth: How the Solar System’s Smallest Members Point the Way to Planet Nine” – UMich Saturday Morning Physics
Feb 2017: “Dwarf Planets and Super-Earths” – Sloan Longway Planetarium First Friday

2025: Interviewed for Rubin Observatory’s “First Look” image reveal by The Economist, New Scientist, BBC Radio, and Planetary Radio.
2024: Invited guest on Bunsen and Berner’s Pawdcast.
2023: Invited guest on the 365 Days of Astronomy podcast.
2021: Invited guest on PhD Balance Grad Chat and Astro[sound]bites.
2020: Guest on Ask Me, I’m A Scientist! and SciComm Storytime.
2019: Interviewed by New Atlas regarding SpaceX Starlink photobombs.
2016: Featured in UMich press release and Universe Today for the discovery of dwarf planet “DeeDee” (2014 UZ224), a nickname I coined.

Social Media Content Strategist: (2018–Present) Communicated science via my personal social media account,@SpaceSciSteph. Curated accounts for Unique Scientists, #BlackInSciCommWeek, @AGU_SciComm, and @astrotweeps.
Curious Science Writers: Mentor (2020) for high school students developing science writing skills.
Portal to the Public: Science Communication Fellow (2017–2018). Developed hands-on activities to demonstrate Solar System scale to families at the Detroit Zoo and UMich Museum of Natural History.
Dark Energy Survey EPO: (2016–2018) Facilitated astronomy outreach efforts for 400+ scientists, answering questions for UK school children via Dark Bites, and publicizing results.
Society for Women in Physics (SWIP): (2015–2019) Highlighted minority physicists through departmental posters and presented physics demonstrations to middle school students.

Jul 2026: “Effective Science Communication: Why it’s important and how to do it better!” – Rubin Community Workshop, Menlo Park, CA.
Jan 2020: “Make it Personal: Effective Strategies for Communicating Your Science” – Invited speaker at UCLA and UC Irvine.
2018–2019: RELATE Instructor (UMich) – Co-developed and instructed intensive communication fundamentals workshops focusing on audience, messaging, narrative, and elevator pitches.

Jan 2025: “Capturing the Cosmos (and the Internet) with Rubin Observatory’s First Look Social Media Strategy” (AAS 245)
Jun 2024: “Rubin Voices: Showcasing the diverse people of Rubin Observatory in multifaceted ways” (Communicating Astronomy to the Public, Toulouse, France)
Jan 2023: Panelist, APS Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP)
Jan 2023: “Introducing the Rubin Observatory Education and Public Outreach Program” (AAS 241)
Jun 2022: “Audience-centered interactive data visualizations: Orbitviewer & Data Narratives” (AAS 240)
Jan 2019: “Recent Results in the z<10^-10 Universe from the Dark Energy Survey” (Invited speaker, AAS 233)
Oct 2018: “A Combined Study of Extreme Trans-Neptunian Objects From Three Surveys and Implications for Planet Nine” (DPS 50)

Science Talk: Inclusivity Lead (2019–2021). Led efforts to promote an inclusive environment, including accessibility accommodations.
ComSciCon: Conference Organizer (Flagship, Michigan & Los Angeles chapter), Leadership Team Write-a-thon Lead. Michigan Region Chair (2017–2021). Organized workshops, managed strategic publishing partnerships, and initiated the Michigan chapter. Advocated for accessibility and diversity across the organization.
Science Communication Trainers Network (SCTN): Board Member (2023–2024). Collaborated to define the strategic goals and vision of the network.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: Juror for the Awards for Excellence in Science Communication (2022–2023).
Dark Energy Survey (DES): Early Career Scientists Committee Chair (2016–2019). Planned career-development events, panels, and resources for early career researchers.