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About Me

I'm interested in public perceptions of science culture and the notion of science literacy in general. To that end, I'm fortunate to run a communications lab devoted to the prospect of providing science culture experiences to a wide variety of different audiences.

This may take the form of elementary school field trips that actively court partnerships between science and creative writing, to launching web initiatives that generate partnerships between research scientists and the graphic design community, or coordinating a large scale academic project aimed at bridging science and art undergraduate communities.

On a less formal level, I can lay claim to the following:

(1) I am partly responsible for the massive DNA helix emblazoned on my building’s facade; (2) my Dad beat up Bruce Lee; (3) my first foray into general publishing featured a unicorn on the front cover; and (4) my wife and kids are all exemplary.


Location:
Canada, Vancouver B.c.
Current organization:
Michael Smith Laboratories, UBC
Current role:
Academic
Gender:
Male
Areas of expertise:
Science Communication, Creativity, Community Outreach, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Genetics, science popularization, Chewbacca
I am:
Brainstormer, Concerned citizen, Connector, Educator/Teacher, Parent, Scientist, Writer/Editor
Associations:
Free
Languages:
English
My website links:
Twitter, Work, Blog
Universities:
University of British Columbia
TED conferences attended:
TED2010

TEDCRED 500+ TED AttendeeTEDx Organizer

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Public Understanding of Science (a field with the most unfortunate acronym). Particularly in terms of science culture, as oppose to focusing primarily on the technical science content.

An idea worth spreading

(1) I would like to develop curricula (for elementary/high school audiences) that delves into the nuances of the Scientific Method - definitely give me a shout if this sounds interesting. (2) Pokemon, but with biodiversity and ecology as the content drivers (http://phylogame.org). Keen to also discuss ways to empower scientists in challenged infrastructure settings (in the developing world for instance).

People don't know that I'm good at

Research MacGyver-ing (science training in poor research infrastructure settings). Designing geeky badges (scq.ubc.ca/sciencescouts). Publishing humour (www.mcsweeneys.net/2004/9/9ng).

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