We love science!
Professor Michael E Mann reflects on the legacy of Carl Sagan "It was Sagan who first inspired my aspiration to pursue a career in science back in the early 1980s as I grew up watching his PBS series, Cosmos. It exposed me and others of my generation to the wonders and grandeur of science and the my...
We are delighted to welcome Aishwarya Viswamitra to our editorial board.
Aishwarya is a science communicator based in London, UK. She worked as a science journalist in India for four years before turning to other forms of scientific community engagement, including podcast production and social media. While an editor at The Life of Science, a feminist science media portal in India, she discovered her passion for communicating science through the lens of inclusivity and equity.
Welcome Aishwarya!
We are delighted to welcome Associate Professor Sam Illingworth to our editorial board!
His work and research focus on using poetry and games to engender meaningful dialogue between scientists and society. He is also Chief Executive Editor of Geoscience Communication and founder of Consilience, the world's first peer-reviewed science poetry journal.
Welcome Sam!
We are delighted to welcome Professor Michael Mann to The Brilliant's editorial board.
Michael has greatly contributed to climate science by making climate phenomena understandable for the general public. His work, particularly the iconic "hockey stick" graph, has played a significant role in raising global awareness about climate change, influencing policy making and informing society about the urgent need for sustainable practices.
Welcome Michael!
STEM Matters
Stephen Hawking, renowned physicist, cosmologist, and author, possessed a rare gift. Despite facing immense physical challenges, his brilliance and passion for unraveling the mysteries of the universe never wavered. Through his groundbreaking research on black holes, the nature of time, and the origins of the cosmos, he forever changed our understanding of the universe we inhabit. đđ
However, Stephen Hawking's contributions to science went far beyond his remarkable discoveries. He possessed an extraordinary ability to bridge the gap between the scientific community and the wider public, making complex concepts accessible and captivating for all. With his distinct blend of intellectual prowess, humor, and infectious enthusiasm, he brought the wonders of the cosmos to life, igniting the imaginations of countless individuals around the world.
Brazilian Professor Natalia Pasternak, a microbiologist and fighter of COVID-19 misinformation, who led a tireless media campaign against Brazil's former government's chaotic anti-science response, joins the board in her mission against unscientific and misleading narratives.
Welcome Natalia!
We are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Editorial Board.
Composed of a diversity of global experts in science communication, the new board will provide invaluable guidance to enhance The Brilliant's mission of accelerating the positive impact of STEM by building a sector that understands and invests in science communication.
Over the next couple days, we will announce each board member, so stay tuned!
So let's start with award-winning storyteller and creative technologist, Stanley Anigbogu
Welcome Stanley!
STEM Matters
A true legend!
Itâs high time I introduced myself properly! Iâm Kylie Ahern, founder of The Brilliant and CEO of science communication and content agency STEM Matters. Iâve worked in science publishing and communication for over two decades and was one of the founders of .
Iâm passionate about communicating the work of researchers to help them get funding and reduce the time from discovery to impact.
When not in work mode, Iâm open to receiving unsolicited Portuguese water dog pictures. Reach out and say hi!
Attention science communicators, astrophysicists and astronomers â get your stories/research ready to share for International Asteroid Day (June 30).
Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
Truth!
Caroline Pegram: bridging the gap between science & music through AI.
From managing and producing Karl Kruszelnicki to winning the AI Eurovision contest, to a Cybernetic Imagination Residency at ANU, and now leading as the head of tech and innovation at the groundbreaking SXSW Sydney event, she is at the forefront of championing AI-driven creativity.
Read her brilliant story
https://thebrilliant.com/profiles/caroline-pegram/
At just 15, Neha Shukla used the pandemic lockdowns as a springboard for invention. She created SixFeetApart, a hat that alerts users when someone gets too close, and developed the PA Homeless Guide App to combat homelessness.
Shukla's innovations gained global recognition, and she launched innovation workshops reaching over 70,000 students.
Now 18 and studying computer science, she advocates for ethical AI as the US representative of the World Economic Forum's Generation AI Youth Council. Shukla's impact and potential are awe-inspiring.
Read her brilliant story
https://thebrilliant.com/highlight/neha-shukla/
Meet Professor John Fletcher, Director of UNSW's Digital Grid Futures Institute, a clean energy trailblazer. With his global experience and background in electrical engineering, Fletcher is leading efforts to design a digital grid that seamlessly integrates renewable sources into the existing infrastructure.
He believes Australia can be a world leader in this transition and emphasizes the need for swift action to seize economic opportunities.
Australia, it's time to act!
Read his brilliant story
https://thebrilliant.com/profiles/professor-john-fletcher/
In the latest issue, we ventured to India where we met Darshana Joshi and Vijay Venugopalan, founders of VigyanShaala, who are democratizing science education in India.
Darshana Joshi and Vijay Venugopalan founded VigyanShaala, a charitable organization, to democratize science education. They offer mentorship programs, including the Rural STEM Champions Fellowship and the Kalpana Fellowship for women in STEM. VigyanShaala has connected over 200 mentors worldwide with rural students, fostering critical thinking and hands-on experiences.
The Kalpana Fellowship has already impacted over 3,000 women, offering career guidance and specialized mentoring. Additionally, VigyanShaala collaborates with local governments to address systemic barriers faced by women in STEM and collect comprehensive data on STEM education. Their goal is to reach 10,000 women and influence policies for a more inclusive scientific community in India.
Read her brilliant story
https://thebrilliant.com/highlight/democratising-science-in-india/
Vaishali Sharma is revolutionizing STEAM education in India through the Young Tinker Foundation. With a focus on empowering young women in rural areas, they teach hands-on robotics, engineering, and AI skills in local languages. From humble beginnings in a tin shed with three students, they now run 46 spaces and have won international recognition.
By embracing a tinkering culture, students become makers and innovators, ready to tackle real-world challenges. Despite challenges like limited resources and cultural biases, the Young Tinker Foundation is determined to bring change and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Read her brilliant story
https://thebrilliant.com/case-studies/vaishali-sharma/
From paper manuscripts to open access revolution, Martin Delahunty has witnessed the incredible evolution of scientific publishing. Now, he's empowering publishers to embrace the open science world through his London-based consultancy.
With a passion for free and unfettered access to knowledge, Delahunty champions open science and the importance of curating and disseminating research data. Peer-reviewed journals are losing ground as data accessibility takes center stage. Delahunty's mission? To curate, annotate, add value, and create impact.
Join him in reshaping the future of scientific publishing.
https://thebrilliant.com/case-studies/martin-delahunty/
Professor Nicholas Opie has seen it happen seven wonderful times. A paralysed patient has a tiny device implanted in the blood vessels in their brain. The device, known as the Stentrode, receives electrical signals from the brain, and as a result, the patient can control a computer with only their thoughts. So far, four people in Australia and three in the United States have shown how successful this system can be at allowing them to send emails and complete other online activities such as shopping.
âItâs exciting to see their faces when they use it for the first time,â says Opie, a biomedical engineer. âPartly because itâs novel â no-oneâs been able to control computers with their mind before â but also because they can now live their lives with a level of independence.â
Read his Brilliant story
https://thebrilliant.com/profiles/nick-opie/
Heading up the Science Engine of Robert Downey Jr.âs Footprint Coalition, Rachel Kropa wants to shake up funding norms for innovative ideas.
Imagine growing cotton without a plant or 3D-printing a steak. How about sequencing the genome of an extinct species of ladybug, with hopes of bringing it back from the dead? These pioneering innovations are among the growing number of projects that the Science Engine, a non-profit technology incubator run by Robert Downey Jr.âs Footprint Coalition, aims to propel out of realms of science fiction.
âThe current system for science funding is not moving at the pace of an emergency,â says Rachel Kropa, who joined the Hollywood actor to establish the Science Engine in late 2019.
This is particularly true for ingenious ideas that may at first seem risky, but could be revolutionary if given the chance â ideas that Kropaâs team is most interested in developing.
In 2022, the Science Engine funded 40 such projects in seven categories of environmental technology: cellular agriculture, conservation biotech, environmental justice, indigenous futures, metascience, mycological innovations and negative-emissions technologies. When asked which she is most proud of, Kropa laughs, âOh my gosh, there are so many, thatâs like choosing your favorite child!â
Read her brilliant story
https://thebrilliant.com/highlight/rachel-kropa/
The story of Micro Museums has touched our hearts.
Their groundbreaking approach to museums is winning over audiences who may have previously felt excluded from cultural or scientific institutions.
Despite their small size, these museums are having a big impact, inspiring a new way of thinking about how museums can reach people in cities and remote areas. It's incredible to think that something as simple as a tiny museum could attract a more diverse audience than traditional institutions.
Bravo Charles Philipp!
Read his Brilliant story.
https://thebrilliant.com/case-studies/micro-museums/
A straight-As maths student who identified with the kids who âdidnât get itâ, Dr Tai-Danae Bradley is passionate about education. She shares her journey from a life-changing calculus class to becoming a mathematician and science communicator.
For Bradley, science communication is about bringing as many people to the table as possible. âI cannot fathom why a researcher would want to exclude others from understanding what they do,â she says.
Read her Brilliant story
https://thebrilliant.com/highlight/tai-danae-bradley/
Anne OâNeill saw brilliant Australian medical innovations lost to overseas interests that were willing to get them to market. So, she set up a means of mentoring researchers and connecting them with industry and government funding to keep them here.
âIâm at the nexus of championing things â research and innovations, such as revolutionary medical devices, that struggle to be translated commercially,â says OâNeill. âIn part, itâs about accelerating and de-risking the process. Until recently, the commercialisation and de-risking processes had been done offshore.â
OâNeill stresses that, in Australian health and medical research, particularly in the health system and public research organisations, there has been a struggle to work effectively with industry, or even to make the connection.
âThe health system is cautious about being seen as unduly influenced or tainted by industry,â says OâNeill. âSo, when it comes to funding research, there is immense pressure on scientists and researchers to be seen as objective and impartial and they are therefore hesitant to engage industry support.â
âBecause of this, we have lost Australian innovations to overseas interests that are willing to get them to market,â says OâNeill. âThis means we have lost a significant return on investment, not only to governments that supported the initial research, but to the Australian population.â
Read her brilliant story
https://thebrilliant.com.au/profiles/anne-oneill/
Meet Dr Darren Saunders who while wearing one hat as a researcher and academic at various institutes, has also been a regular guest and commentator across television and radio. He's now turning his mind to policy, bringing his formidable skills to the new Deputy Chief Scientist & Engineer role in the Office of the New South Wales Chief Scientist & Engineer.
What we love about his communication approach is how comfortable he is communicating with the public about science uncertainty.
âAround the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was getting asked a lot to come on television or radio to help people understand this crazy, rapidly changing situation with lots of unknowns. It really brought into focus for me the importance of being comfortable with uncertainty. Itâs still possible to function and to make decisions even if you arenât 100% certain about what youâre doing.â
Read his brilliant story
https://thebrilliant.com.au/highlight/dr-darren-saunders/
In the latest issue, we meet the brilliant Dr Fenwa F. Milhouse, a renowned urologist, who is using her social-media presence to tackle serious health issues, bust medical myths and help people understand their bodies.
Milhouse may have a 50,000-strong following on TikTok, which includes patients, doctors and medical students, but acknowledges that sheâs ânot everybodyâs cup of teaâ. âI think a lot of people are outdated in their thinking about how a doctor should represent themselves,â she says. âIâve crossed that line. They think its unprofessional, that you shouldnât be on your social media dancing and joking about peeing.â
âIâm talking about s*x, urine, about your privates in detail, so itâs really important that people from any background can walk into my office and feel comfortable,â she says. âIâm proud to say that my social media helps to create that comfort and connection.â
Milhouse also talked to us about representation. "My parents instilled in me a belief that I could do whatever I wanted,â she says. âBut the world teaches you something else. The world doesnât really teach Black girls and boys that they can be these professional experts. Being Black in the United States is very different from being Black in like Nigeria, where youâre not subjected to systemic discrimination and subconscious feelings of inferiority.â
Read her brilliant story!
https://thebrilliant.com.au/highlight/fenwa-milhouse/
Motivated by a lack of role models, astrophysicist Reina Reyes uses storytelling to bring science to life.
Highly engaged with the public via social media, television appearances and her Pinoy Scientists blog, which celebrates the work of Filipino researchers, Reyes had become the kind of role model that her younger self would have loved to see.
Read her brilliant story!
https://thebrilliant.com.au/case-studies/reina-reyes/
Talking openly with young people about big, scary issues such as climate change may seem daunting to parents, but itâs important to remember that keeping them in the conversation helps kids â and adults â learn.
Lee Constable has experienced this firsthand. Since publishing her book, parents have told her that theyâve also learnt something new, such as what goes in which rubbish bin. âKids have so much power to influence the adults in their lives,â says Constable. âIt really is an intergenerational discussion that comes out of these things.â
Read her brilliant story
https://thebrilliant.com.au/highlight/lee-constable/
When Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Terletska was faced with a harrowing choice: to stay in Ukraine, or flee to a safer place with her two young children. After hiding in the a basement in Kyiv while bombs fell nearby, she made the devastating decision to leave her parents and husband behind and take her sons to Austria. They joined over eight million people who have been displaced from Ukraine into Europe since the start of the war, according to the United Nationsâ refugee agency, UNHCR.
The decision has left Terletska conflicted. âIn any situation, you feel that you are doing wrong,â she says. âBut I am a mum first. If it wasnât for my children, I would definitely have stayed.â
Read her brilliant story
https://thebrilliant.com.au/profiles/kateryna-terletska/
When designer Jo Bailey learned that no women scientists had been featured on a New Zealand postage stamp until 2019, she knew she had to pitch a women in science stamp set to help redress the balance. But she wasnât content to just pitch the concept â she wanted to design the stamps herself.
Read her brilliant story
https://thebrilliant.com.au/highlight/jo-bailey/
A stroke victim who hasnât been able to speak or move for 15 years thinks of what he would say if he could. Specialised sensors attached to his brain identify the word he is thinking of and feed it to a computer that displays and vocalises it for him.
No longer the stuff of science fiction, such technology could change the lives of patients with traumatic brain injury. Itâs the work of Dr Edward Chang, an award-winning neuroscientist and chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).
Changâs work in decoding brain function, particularly in terms of speech, could help patients with injuries that prevent them from communicating efficiently, such as locked-in syndrome (characterised by complete paralysis of almost all voluntary muscles except for eye movements and blinking). âSimilar technology can be used to monitor and stimulate and reduce seizures as well,â Chang told The Brilliant.
Read his brilliant story
https://thebrilliant.com.au/profiles/edwardchang/
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