Bring science communication into action
Join the Kansas Science Communication Initiative, the Kansas Water Institute, and the Department of Communications and Agricultural Education for this free event on January 14-15, 2026.
Registration information
Space is limited for this event, so please register prior to January 8, 2026.
Speakers and Panelists
Keynote Speaker: Alexa Lamm
Alexa Lamm is a Professor of Science Communication in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Communication and Education at the University of Georgia. She is best known for facilitating discussions between scientists and industry stakeholders with the intent of using science to inform policy. She has served as a PI or co-PI on 57 interdisciplinary grants and contracts totaling over $70.6M (over $8M directly to her lab) from agencies including the USDA/NIFA, NSF, CDC, the National Pork Board, WorldBank and IFAD. She is a noted scholar having authored/co-authored over 260 peer-reviewed journal publications, a book, and numerous Extension fact sheets on the human (both psychological and sociological) dimensions of agricultural science technology adoption. She has been internationally recognized on many occasions with her work conducted in over 38 countries. She was named a Fellow of the American Association for Agricultural Education in 2022 and a Fellow of the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education (AIAEE) in 2018. Her most recent awards include receiving the Borlaug CAST Communication Award and Outstanding Achievement Award from AIAEE. In the past few years, Dr. Lamm has provided invited presentations for the World Food Prize Foundation, the International Summit on the Societal Role of Meat and Livestock, the American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellows, and the International Livestock Congress.
Panelist: Erica Buckwalter
Erica Buckwalter serves as Curator of Education at Sunset Zoo, where she develops engaging programs that connect the community to the natural world. With 14 years of experience, she’s dedicated to inspiring empathy, improving environmental literacy, and encouraging people to be better stewards of wildlife and wild places.
Panelist: Jill Haukos
Jill Haukos is the Director of Education at the Konza Prairie Biological Station where she works to connect the people of Kansas to their native biome, the grasslands. She guides the Konza Environmental Education Program (KEEP) that invites K-12 students (3,500 - 4,000 students annually) to visit and immerse themselves into the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. KEEP is facilitated by a cadre of skilled volunteer docents that Haukos trains and coordinates. Haukos develops additional prairie ecology outreach into the Kansas community with social media posts and adult education classes.
Panelist: Matthew Kirk
Dr. Matthew Kirk is a Professor and University Outstanding Scholar in Geology at Kansas State University and a fellow of the Geological Society of America. He holds a BS in Geological Sciences from Bradley University, a MS in Geology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a PhD in Earth and Planetary Sciences from the University of New Mexico. Dr. Kirk’s primary research focus is the chemistry and microbiology of groundwater.
Panelist: Amber Vennum
Dr. Amber Vennum is a Professor in the Couple and Family Therapy Program at Kansas State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from The Florida State University and focuses on systemic approaches to promoting mental and relational well-being during adolescence and emerging adulthood. Her engaged scholarship includes developing and evaluating trauma-informed interventions such as #RelationshipGoals (a comprehensive relationship education curriculum), and Working on What Works (a solution-focused classroom management approach). As Executive Director of Relevate, a multi-university team committed to expanding public access to evidence-based relationship science, Dr. Vennum leads efforts that have received national recognition for advancing innovation and civic engagement. Her work emphasizes collaborative partnerships with communities and practitioners to translate research into practical strategies that support youth well-being and systemic change.