Symposium on Science Communication and Public Engagement
September 11, 2026
5th floor, O'Connor Building
12:00 p.m. - Welcome and Introduction
Amy Dittmar, Howard R. Hughes Provost
Thomas Killian, Dean, the Wiess School of Natural Sciences
Scott Solomon, Director, Rice Center for Science Communication and Public Engagement, Teaching Professor of Biosciences
12:20 p.m. - Fireside Chat: What is the Role of the Scientist in Society?
Neal Lane, Senior Fellow in Science and Technology Policy at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, Malcom Gillis University Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy
Scott Solomon, Director, Rice Center for Science Communication and Public Engagement, Teaching Professor of Biosciences
1:00 p.m. - Panel Discussion: Faculty Perspectives on Science Communication and Public Engagement
Kory Evans, Assistant Professor of Biosciences
Kirstin Matthews, Senior Fellow in Science and Technology Policy at the Baker Institute for Public Policy and Director of the Science and Technology Policy Program
Douglas Natelson, Associate Dean for Research, Wiess School of Natural Sciences and Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Kirsten Siebach, Assistant Professor of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences
Moderator: Lauren Kapcha, Assistant Dean for Communications and Student Programs, Wiess School of Natural Sciences
2:00 p.m. - Workshop: Incorporating Broader Impacts into Your Grant Proposal
Douglas Natelson, Associate Dean for Research, Wiess School of Natural Sciences and Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Jonathan D. Meyer, Assistant Director of the Office of Research Development
3:00 p.m. - Panel Discussion: SciComm Superstars
Eric Berger, Senior Space Editor at Ars Tecnica, Founder of Space City Weather, Author of "Reentry"
Peter Hotez, Dean, National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine; Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine; Endowed Chair in Tropical Pediatrics at Texas Children's Hospital; and Fellow in Disease and Poverty at Baker Institute for Public Policy; and author or "Science Under Siege"
Kelly Weinersmith, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biosciences, author of "A City on Mars" and co-host of "Daniel and Kelly's Extraordinary Universe"
Moderator: Scott Solomon, Director, Rice Center for Science Communication and Public Engagement, Teaching Professor of Biosciences
4:00 p.m. - Keynote Address
Kelly Weinersmith, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biosciences, author of "A City on Mars," co-host of "Daniel and Kelly's Extraordinary Universe"
5:00 p.m. - Reception
Please register if you plan to attend the Symposium on Science Communication and Public Engagement.
Rice Science Café
Thursday, September 10: Julia Morgan, Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences
Thursday, October 29: Andrea Rummell, Bioscience
Thursday, November 19: Douglas Natelson, Physics and Astronomy
6:00 p.m.
Drop of the Creator Spirits Co.
10929 Chimney Rock Rd. Free onsite parking Food and beverages can be purchased onsite