Speaking

Topics & engagements

Each keynote is developed in collaboration with the host organization.

Responsible Science Communication in the Age of Misinformation

Building Public Trust in Science and Research Institutions

Science Storytelling for Non-Scientific Audiences

The Scientist’s Role in the Modern Media Ecosystem

Civic Science and the Science-Society Interface

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Science Communication

Virtual Events & Hybrid Conference Production

Science Communication as a Professional Practice

Science communication is a systems problem, not a skills problem

The gap between what science knows and what the public understands is infrastructural — in the programs that train scientists to communicate, the institutions that reward it, and the media ecosystems that carry the message. Kirsten designs and builds the infrastructure that closes the gap.

“It is our responsibility as science communicators to work with scientific partners to make sure that ethical, responsible communication becomes a cornerstone of science.”

— Kirsten Sanford, Ph.D., ASC

Selected Engagements

2025

Sloan Foundation Film Summit

Panel · Academy Museum

2025

ASTC Annual Conference

Presentation

2024

UPenn Perelman Medicine

Panel

2021

ASTC Plenary

Plenary Speaker

2021

ASTC Friedman · Kavli

Featured Participant

2012

CU Boulder COLTT

Keynote

2010

Oklahoma State

Featured Speaker

2008

APS Experimental Biology

Symposium

Conversations

Hundreds of interviews with leading scientists and science communicators

Over 26 years and 1,051+ episodes, Kirsten has interviewed hundreds of leading scientists and science communicators — from Nobel laureates to NASA mission leads, from bestselling science authors to the researchers behind breakthrough discoveries.

Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Astrophysicist · Director, Hayden Planetarium

Peter Doherty

Nobel Laureate · Physiology/Medicine

Lisa Randall

Theoretical Physicist · Harvard University

Leonard Susskind

Theoretical Physicist · Stanford University

Michael E. Mann

Climate Scientist · University of Pennsylvania

Peter Hotez

Vaccine Scientist · Baylor College of Medicine

Sean Carroll

Theoretical Physicist · Johns Hopkins

Carl Zimmer

Science Columnist · The New York Times

Sarah Parcak

Space Archaeologist · TED Prize Laureate

Ayanna Howard

Roboticist · Dean of Engineering, Ohio State

David Quammen

Science Author · National Geographic

Eugenie Scott

Founding Director · Nat’l Center for Science Education

William Gibson

Author · Neuromancer

Michio Kaku

Theoretical Physicist · Author

Moriba Jah

Astrodynamicist · UT Austin

Elisabeth Bik

Microbiologist · Scientific Integrity Advocate

Let’s Work Together

Ready to build something that matters?

All engagements begin with a consultation. The conversation starts the same way.

Schedule a Consultation →