The People Behind KSCI

KSCI is an interdisciplinary collaboration between faculty, staff, and students across campus as well as community partners who are interested in science communication have come together to build KSCI.

Interested in contributing to KSCI? Email scicomm@ksu.edu !

 

KSCI Leadership

Jacqueline Aenlle

Dr. Jacqueline Aenlle

Jacqueline Aenlle in an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communications and Agricultural Education. She first became interested in science communication during her graduate studies where she founded a science podcast that covered controversial topics in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. Her research focuses in part on the science of science communication. Her most recent work explores scientists' experiences participating in digital science outreach opportunities and the role of trust in science communication and science engagement. She presents her work both nationally and internationally. Jacqueline became involved with KSCI immediately upon accepting a faculty position at K-State and is excited to continue to grow the interdisciplinary, collaborative efforts and programming offered by KSCI.


KSCI Steering Committee

Jared Bixbybixby

bixby@cityofmhk.com

As the curator of education for Sunset Zoo, Jared Bixby helps connect scientists to the public in an effort to further the understanding of the amazing research happening at K-State and around the region. This interest comes from a passion for conservation of wildlife and a belief that science literacy is a key part to solving the many issues animals face today. Beyond helping plan and coordinate Science Communication Week last fall, Jared worked on launching Sunset Zoo’s Behind the Science website. This website will continue Sunset Zoo’s support of scientists in their efforts to engage a wide variety of audiences around their research.

 

Megan MillerDr. Megan Miller

mmmiller@ksu.edu
Megan Miller is the Assistant Director for Student Success at K-State. Originally from Pueblo, Colorado, Megan began her role as the Graduate School's Student Success Coordinator in August 2014. She also worked as a graduate assistant for the Graduate School while pursuing her master's of science and PhD in psychology, completed at K-State in 2009 and 2014, respectively.

Tom HallaqDr. Tom Hallaq

thallaq@ksu.edu

Tom Hallaq is an Associate Professor in the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication and had an integral role in the founding of KSCI. His professional background is in live television producing and directing. Dr. Hallaq earned his Bachelors of Arts (B.A.) degree in Communications from Brigham Young University, his Master's of Education (M.Ed.) in Instructional Media and Technology from Eastern Washington University and a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership/ Instructional Methods and Design from Idaho State University where he was also on the faculty as an Assistant Professor. He comes to Kansas State University with more than 14 years teaching experience. His research interests include media literacy, cultural effects of media, and broadcast history. He also has interests in the impact of religious influence on news reporting.

 

KSCI Affiliates

 

Sarah Hancocksarah

sarhan@ksu.edu

Sarah Caldwell Hancock, founding member of KSCI, works as senior project manager and editor at New Boston Creative Group, where she collaborates with the rest of the NBCG team to make sure clients' needs are met and expectations are exceeded. She brings more than 25 years of experience in publishing, editing, teaching, writing, and communications in technology, higher education, science communication and healthcare. Sarah enjoys big-picture strategic communication planning as well as nuts-and-bolts content development and editing, and she provides a final set of eyes to make sure everything is perfect and polished.

 

Katie Starzec

kstarzec@ksu.eduDr. Katie Starzec

 

Dr. Starzec is an Assistant Professor of agricultural communications and journalism. Her teaching areas are environmental communication, strategic communication, and principles of layout and design. With a background in natural resource management related to water and soil, Dr. Starzec’s extension appointment revolves around communication strategies for environmental and conservation efforts, including communication’s role in landowner decision-making; outreach strategies for watershed management; and partnerships in natural resource conservation.

 

Alice Boylealice

aboyle@ksu.edu

Alice is an assistant professor for the Division of Biology at K-State. She specializes in ornithology, migration, dispersal, and life history as well as the behavioral, evolutionary and physiological ecology of birds. Alice became involved in the Kansas Science Communication Initiative because she loves what she does. She loves telling people about what she does and explaining why it is important to society. "Unfortunately, I—like so many others—sometimes fall into the trap of talking ‘like a scientist’ when describing my own work, and consequently lose my audience." Alice works at science communication to develop abilities to tell important stories in compelling ways through a variety of media including video, imagery, diagrams, interactive activities, and informal talks.

Check out Dr. Boyle's website to learn more about her important work.

 

To see past contributors to the Kansas Science Communication Initiative, check out this page of past KSCI team-members.