The front page to the Skype a Scientist annual report with the tagline "making science fun and accessible" with a green and blue background of people at a table making art

You hear what I'm doing constantly here, but do you want to see what @skypeascientist.bsky.social accomplishes in a year, all in one place?

Our 2025 annual report is where you'll find it!
drive.google.com/file/d/1sHCs...

TY to graphic designer @coreydanks.bsky.social for putting this together!

If you work in #SciComm , please take our survey and share it!

The front page to the Skype a Scientist annual report with the tagline "making science fun and accessible" with a green and blue background of people at a table making art

Our 2025 annual report is live!

Get an in-depth view of the work we did last year all in one place drive.google.com/file/d/1sHCs...

Thank YOU for volunteering with us, donating to support our work, and buying anything from our merch shop. We couldn't do it without you!

A block of text that says "Scientists at the University of Miami are carrying out a research study on trends in the field of science communication. For this survey we are defining science communication as work that is done: • by a technical subject area expert in some field related to science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, • outside of classroom settings • aimed at the public If you are 18 years of age or older and work or recently worked in this field (full-time, part-time, or as a side project), please click the link below to complete a short survey. If you are interested in learning more about this research study, please e-mail us at Julia.wester@miami.edu. In the body of your email please provide your full name, and if you would prefer to be contacted by phone, your phone number and the best time to reach you. Contacting us for more information does not commit you to participating, and should you decide to participate you may terminate your participation at any time."

Attention Science Communicators!

We are conducting a survey on the landscape of science communication & need your help gathering experiences.

Please send this to #SciComm ppl you know. We want to get as thorough a sense of the state of the field as we can.

umiami.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Cyclists scatter ‘seed bombs’ around North Philly to help native species thrive We joined Wednesday Night Rides and Skype a Scientist to help boost biodiversity in Philadelphia.

Local cyclists are helping native species thrive by scattering 'seed bombs' around North Philly. Billy Penn joined a Wednesday Night Rides and Skype a Scientist for a ride to learn more. billypenn.com/2026/03/11/p...

We've run a bunch of science events but not the storytelling kind! (sorry I need to check this bsky more, I'm active constantly on the @sarahmackattack.bsky.social account)

Getting ready for my third and fourth @skypeascientist.bsky.social presentations of the week tomorrow. So far, my favorite question asked this week is, "What's the WEIRDEST tornado you've seen?" Not biggest, smallest, widest, longest- or shortest-lived, but WEIRDEST. Gawd, I love kids; minds! 😅👍

a great @skypeascientist.bsky.social session where I had to explain to a room of Arkansas kids that I in fact don't pronounce the word strawberry the British way but the American way, followed by the whole class doing the STROOBERI 🍓

there was also good mozzie questions, but strooberi was funny

We still have lots of these! Get 'em at SquidFacts.net

The teacher I'm preparing a presentation for through @skypeascientist.bsky.social said they are currently learning about predation and adaptations, and how animals develop "cool behaviors to survive" and I literally CANNOT WAIT to tell them about fulmars 😂

got to do a @skypeascientist.bsky.social session today to share some #MusicScience for international women’s day. super fun. #IWD2026

I had my first @skypeascientist.bsky.social talk (session? chat? meeting?) today. Two third grade classes and it was AWESOME! The enthusiasm! And such fantastic questions! I just hope they weren’t too disappointed I haven’t caught a barracuda or a white shark or a swordfish 🧪🌊🐠

Plant native blooms in time for spring with Philly’s favorite squid scientist Local butterflies and bees need more homes. Philly’s science community has some creative solutions.

Oh hey!! A Billy Penn article all about the Native Plant project is OUT! Featuring interviews from me, @zajic.com @megstampede.bsky.social and @the666cat.bsky.social!

Check it out! billypenn.com/2026/02/24/s...

Big fan of @skypeascientist.bsky.social
I always recommend them as a good place to start if you want to get more public engagement experience as a scientist.

And right now they're funding in-person science communication projects.

For Feeds: 🛟 😷 🧪 #academicsky #phdsky

They're creating community, collaboration and beauty, all in one project. Fund it... It'll make you feel good. 😉

It's that time again! Reposts appreciated, we want to make sure as many potential science communicators see this as possible.

Help fund our 2026 Science IRL mini-grant program! By Skype a Scientist

Last year we were able to give out $8500 thanks to donors who supported this program.

This year we’re starting at a baseline of $3000 (from advent calendar sales). Anything additional raised on this page will go directly to supporting more 2026 projects!

givebutter.com/Science_IRL2...

SCIENCE IRL: Mini-Grant Highlights | Skype a Scientist Get more from Skype a Scientist on Patreon

It’s been a year since we launched the science IRL mini-grant program.

Wanna see what our grantees got up to??

Check it out!
www.patreon.com/posts/scienc...

We’ll be doing this program again in 2026, keep an eye out for the announcement soon!

We’re at 10% of the way funded! Thank you to everyone who supported us so far 🥰

We had our community meeting last night where neighbors voted on the artist and theme! That vote is open until Friday then we can start designing the mural.

Help us fund this project here!

givebutter.com/KenzoMural

a bulletin board with a poster that has a bunch of seed packets hanging from it in cobbs creek park. The poster has milkweed and a monarch and says "Plant native plants"

A poster on a pole that has a bunch of seed packets hanging from it. The poster has bee balm on it with a yellow background and says "Plant native plants"

the same bee balm poster, but now it's on a bulletin board in a city park

bee balm poster is back at it, but now on a column in a park covered in posters

The 2026 native plant project is up and running!

We have 10 seed distribution stations set up all around the city, each thanks to a volunteer poster hoster.

This project was made possible by monthly donors to @skypeascientist.bsky.social and people who bought calendars from SquidFacts.net!

This seems like a great moment to talk about the importance of science communication!

Science communication matters because it connects scientific research with people, giving folks information they need to make informed decisions about everything from health to hazards.

H.A. Brown Elementary School Mural By Skype a Scientist

So, in short, this project rocks. We've done murals before, so we know what we're doing. All we need now is help from people like you.

$10 gets me some paint rollers
$75 gets me a bucket of primer
$150 gets me a day with a power washer
ANY amount helps me pay for labor

givebutter.com/KenzoMural

Reason 6: We are getting the whole community involved
This is a project with BOTH a school AND a neighbors association. That means we'll be bringing families out who go to the school, & people from the pizza joint, & the single people w/2 dogs. We're getting everybody together for science & art!

Reason 5: This location rocks
Community murals work best when they are low and long. This is helpful because we want many people to be able to paint simultaneously and we don't want community members in danger on ladders. This wall is loooong and low. Perfect spot for this project.

Reason 4: Art on schools
Getting kids to care about biodiversity when they're young is important for a lifelong appreciation of the ecosystems with live within.

On top of that, schools in the wealthier neighborhoods all have murals nearby, and this one does not. Let's spread some art around.

Reason 3: We love Kensington
We're based on the border of Fishtown & Kensington. Fishtown has a lot of money, both from the people & businesses who live there, & granting orgs that only support within certain neighborhoods of the city. Kensington has a bad reputation, and gets way fewer resources.

Reason 2: Art as a science communication tool
Here at SaS we use a wide range of tools to communicate science. We know any one method is not going to be effective with everyone! In Philly, murals are a huge part of our culture. Weaving science into public art connects new people with biodiversity.

Reason 1: Biodiversity education
Here in Philadelphia, we share our neighborhoods with hundreds of species, but the biodiversity we live among can be easy to miss. This mural will highlight our local species and have information on how to protect our local biodiversity!

H.A. Brown Elementary School Mural By Skype a Scientist

Science + Art appreciators, we need your help!

We're working with the E. Kensington Neighbors Assn & H.A Brown school to create a community-driven mural on the biodiversity of our Philly neighborhood!

We need your help to fund this project
givebutter.com/KenzoMural

Here's why this is important ⬇️

I get to chat about trees with a kindergarten classroom this week with @skypeascientist.bsky.social and I LOVE some of the questions they sent ahead:

How old is the oldest tree that you have met?

Do you draw pictures of your research and how do you share them with your scientist friends?