On May 5, 2025, nearly 80 students, researchers, and professionals gathered at the Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) for the inaugural Utah SciComm Symposium – an event designed to empower scientists to communicate their work with clarity, creativity, and relevance. Supported by the Research!America Civic Science Microgrant, this event provided a platform for showcasing innovative science communication and fostering dialogue between disciplines and communities. While scientific rigor is essential, the true impact of research depends on how effectively we share it.  

The Utah SciComm Symposium brought together voices from academia, government, and journalism. Julie Kiefer, PhD, shared insights from her work at University of Utah Health, emphasizing the power of connection in making science matter. Atim Enyenihi, PhD, offered a policy and industry lens, reminding attendees that the messenger’s identity shapes how science is received. Matthew LaPlante, PhD, drove the message home: “The challenge of science communication is not one of ‘dumbing things down,’ but rather ‘bridging our brilliances.’”

Following these talks, we hosted an Ask Me Anything (AMA) panel, where audience members submitted anonymous questions on topics ranging from career pathways in science communication to overcoming burnout, navigating misinformation, and rekindling a sense of wonder in research. This open dialogue created a space for candid conversations, making the event feel more like a community exchange than a traditional lecture series. 

A centerpiece of the symposium was the SciComm Hackathon Finalist Presentations, where six graduate students showcased creative projects – including comics, visual storytelling pieces, an animated lecture, and a short-form video designed for social media – that translated their complex research for broader audiences. These projects were the result of months of dedicated work, as students developed and refined their materials with feedback from our expert judging panel and media consultant, Julie Callahan. Julie’s experience in multimedia graphics and public outreach was instrumental in helping students shape their ideas into compelling stories. More than just a showcase of scientific expertise, these projects reflected a shared commitment to storytelling, accessibility, and meaningful public engagement.  

“Science communication serves as a bridge between the public and trust in science,” said Kiefer. “Without it, knowledge stays in labs and datasets, when it should be changing minds and changing lives. I’m excited to see so many talented young scientists who are passionate about explaining science and its impacts in creative ways.”

Beyond presentations, the symposium featured interactive science activities led by Utah Brain Awareness Week members from the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Utah. Attendees had the rare opportunity to hold real human brains, learning fascinating facts about brain structure and function, while the concussion goggles module allowed participants to experience the disorienting effects of mild to severe brain injuries. By testing their motor skills through this simulated “patient” lens, attendees also gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of protecting the brain from injury. 

The event’s design reflected the ethos of public engagement: breaking down barriers between science and society through conversation, creativity, and shared curiosity. The Utah SciComm Symposium wasn’t just about presenting research – it was about creating a culture of communication, where storytelling and public engagement are seen as essential components of scientific practice. In an era where misinformation and polarization threaten scientific trust, equipping researchers with these skills is a necessity. By fostering a culture of science communication, we aim to build a more informed, engaged, and connected community. 

Utah families need more support for affordable childcare

Utah’s political leaders say they like economic growth. They also say they like strong families.

But it is all so much talk unless our state’s political and business leaders do more — a lot more — to ensure affordable childcare services are available to more Utah families.

It is not necessary to care at all about the woes of individual families, about parents (mostly mothers) who have to leave college or vocational training before they finish, who have to quit their jobs or give up career advancements, all because they can’t find or afford adequate childcare.

A dollars-and-cents view of the problem shows what the Utah economy is losing because it lacks this vital part of a community’s basic infrastructure.

A 2022 survey published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation — working with United Way of Salt Lake, Voices of Utah Children and the Salt Lake Chamber — was titled “Untapped Potential.” That’s because it measured what Utah loses due to inadequate child care availability.

According to the survey, the overall Utah economy loses $1.36 billion a year because of lost productivity, employee absenteeism and turnover, abandoned careers, degrees or certificates not completed. The state also comes up some $256 million short in annual tax revenues.

And that’s not counting the human cost of dreams delayed or abandoned, of children left in unlicensed, inadequate, even dangerous, facilities.

There was some federal and state money put up to assist childcare providers and customers during and immediately after the coronavirus pandemic. It helped.

But that flow of funds has been running out, and a new administration that prides itself on randomly cutting large amounts out of the nation’s social and educational budgets is only going to make things worse.

Utah’s political, business and religious leaders need to step up.

Larger employers should see the benefits of offering on-site childcare facilities, where parents will be more likely to get to work on time and strengthen parental bonds by being able check in on their children during the day. Smaller employers can prioritize flexibility for parents, in a number of creative ways. Churches with spaces that go unused during the week, and school districts that have downsized, should provide room for care centers.

The state should be more aggressive in providing subsidies, tax credits and other incentives to make childcare affordable for families and working in the field a desirable career. And we need a solution for the untenable cost of liability insurance, which is a massive problem for daycare centers.

It will cost money. But it will cost a lot less than $1.36 billion.

Editorials represent the opinions of The Salt Lake Tribune editorial board, which operates independently from the newsroom.