Why We Built SciComm Summer Camp
Communication skills are no longer optional. Whether students are explaining their science fair project, applying to college, or presenting a group idea - being able to tell a clear story and connect with an audience matters.
Keep scrolling for the full reasons, but here’s your cheat sheet for quick understanding:
Students are already creators, but they’re not always confident ones.
There’s a gap between what students are asked to do and what they’re trained for.
We believe communication is a science skill.
Access matters.
The final project makes it real.
We built this because students deserve the skills to own their voice. If this sounds like a fit for your student, we’d love to see you at camp this summer.
In school, students are often asked to “give a presentation” or “explain their thinking,” but they’re often unsure how to communicate clearly, creatively, and with confidence.
As an educator and science communication expert, I’ve worked with researchers, teachers, and public audiences to help people connect with ideas that matter. But I realized that many of the best communicators I work with today still wish they’d learned those skills earlier.
That’s where this camp comes in.
Students are already creators — but not always confident ones.
From TikToks to group projects, today’s students are producing and sharing a lot of content. But we’ve found that many of them don’t have a strong foundation in storytelling, media responsibility, or how to tailor a message for a specific audience.
We don’t think those skills should be reserved for college or professional training — we believe middle and high school students deserve access to them now.
Communication is a life skill.
SciComm Summer Camp is about more than public speaking or podcasting. It’s about giving students tools to:
Present their ideas clearly
Tell stories that connect
Collaborate and give feedback
Think critically about the media they consume and create
These are the same skills that contribute to success in classrooms, internships, college applications, interviews, and real-world leadership roles.
Access matters.
Talent is evenly distributed, but resources aren’t.
We offer scholarships because powerful communication shouldn’t be reserved for those who can pay for it. We’re building a camp that helps students from all backgrounds grow their voice and see communication as a tool — not just a talent.
We focus on projects that matter.
Each student leaves SciComm Summer Camp with a polished final project. It could be a podcast, a short video, or a compelling story they’ve developed. More importantly, they leave with the confidence to keep creating and sharing their ideas.
If you’ve got a student who’s always explaining things, already recording content, or just trying to find their voice then this camp is for them.
Ready to help your student build these skills with purpose?
➡️ Enroll in SciComm Summer Camp
📅 Session 1 runs June 17 – July 12, 2025; Session 2 runs July 22 - August 16, 2025
🎓 Apply for a scholarship!
Zakiya Whatley, PhD
🧬 Cell biology, Microbiology, & Molecular Genetics
🎙️ Listen on: Science Magazine Podcast, Dope Labs, Breakthrough
💡 Passionate about teaching, translating, and making science engaging for all audiences
Zakiya brings a unique mix of scientific expertise and media storytelling to help students speak, write, and create with confidence.
