Beyond the lab

A quintessential science communicator, biology professor Sarah Hewitt, PhD, knows that bridging the gap between labs and living rooms is vital for a functioning society.

In 2023, Hewitt received an esteemed 3M National Teaching Fellowship Award for her novel science communication work, where she dedicates herself to sharing and disseminating knowledge for the benefit of the academic community and helping students communicate science with a creative flair.

A self-described “adventure scientist,” Hewitt is known for innovative course designs that help amplify both the scientific practice and individual voices. For the last couple of years, Hewitt has been putting together science magazines with her senior-level capstone course students as a class project.

“The magazines were really transformative and just a totally different sort of assignment to give students,” Hewitt says. Seeing the opportunity to take the project faculty-wide, she was able to move forward while acting as interim associate dean. First came a prototype, then the inaugural issue of Science Sphere was introduced at the end of January.

“There's a lot of cool things going on in the Faculty of Science and Technology, and we should highlight them. I hear from students all the time that they don't know how to get involved or don't know what's going on, and this is a good way to show what students are doing — and with their own voices.”

Hewitt noted during her classroom experience (an observation subsequently upheld during her faculty-wide editorial experience), that students have a strong and unique perspective and write in a much different manner than faculty. That, to her, is the magazine’s “hook.”

“I want to give students the idea that what we do isn't just for coursework. Science has applicability and goes beyond the confines of the classroom.”

Science students write a “ton” of lab reports and literature reviews, which are valuable, Hewitt says, but she sees additional value in different kinds of science communication. Experientially, through Science Sphere students learn about the steps involved in putting together an actual publication and that their words matter outside of the academic sphere.

Backed by a small but mighty team of volunteer student editors and writers who met weekly, the Science Sphere group learned together, brainstormed, and collaborated on cultivating content and how it could be best presented. It was a lot of asking, requesting and hoping, but it turns out there are plenty of stories to tell.

“Some of my fellow profs helped put it out there and I was pleasantly surprised at how many people were interested in getting involved. I'm getting people who have done something cool that they would like to write about, so, I kind of love it.”

One of those people is recent Bachelor of Science — Biology graduate Ashley Lawson, who shared her story, “How diverse landscapes shaped an aspiring scientist.” She describes the research experiences she gained while taking her degree at MRU, including working at a federal research station called the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. There, she was able to put her interest in ecology and evolution to work as she assisted a research scientist studying cold genes in insects. She also researched the viability of growing plants in the Arctic in assistance to master’s students.

Lawson also won an internship with the Stuttgart Natural History Museum in the Baden-Württemberg state of Germany. There, she worked with a PhD student on their research on neophytic evergreens. She advises other students to use the resources offered through the Department of Biology, check the careers page often and to talk to their professors about their career paths and experiences.

“I found that, during my studies, we were taught to really focus on our work. We would only really talk about it with our peers, who understand all the science jargon used in our conversations. But, I do think that if we don’t explain what we’re doing and why it matters, then the reason gets lost and the community never gets to see the impact of our work,” Lawson says.

The ultimate goal is to have a magazine composed completely of student content, but in the meantime Hewitt has provided some of her own work, including “Drawing to learn.”

Other bits and pieces include “Know-it-all,” with quiz questions from science professors, “In the News,” which consists of snapshots of developments and discoveries in the science world, including a look at developments in combatting macular degeneration, a chat with a fellow science student, spotlights on student scientists, resources, tips from alumni and more.

For now, Hewitt is enjoying the lack of rules that come with not being overly “professional” at this point, which she says is allowing for more development.

“I'm definitely someone who consumes my information through words. Writing is always work, but it feels like part of who I am.”

Also an avid photographer, it was when Hewitt started exploring adventure science that she began to realize the visual aspect of storytelling is equally a part of her.

“When I look at a photo I remember exactly where I was when I took it, and then I can start writing it so much easier.”

Lawson is currently waiting to start her master’s at the University of Alberta, where she will be studying root data in grasslands. Meanwhile, she is back in Nunavut working for the Red Fish Art Society, a not-for-profit with the mandate of helping at-risk youth.

She plans to maintain a commitment to science communication as she continues her education.

“Getting the word out connects the science community with real life, which can build trust, knowledge and a sense of connection based on the fact that research isn’t meant to benefit only researchers, but meant for everyone,” she says.

Dr. Jonathan Withey, DPhil, is dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology. He says, “Science Sphere puts our students’ curiosity and work front and centre, showcasing the ideas, projects, and experiences that shape their learning. By sharing science in their own words, students invite our community into what we do and why it matters."