#scicomm

This year, we hosted a science art contest in conjunction with UC Davis Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute and the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain. We received incredible entries across four categories. Read on to find out more about the winning pieces.

First place goes to Darren Chan with their depiction of a heart.

At the first event in a collaborative speaker series focused on careers in science communication we heard from Becky Mackelprang, Associate Director for Security Programs at the Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC).

Chapter two, “Bemushroomed,” covers the history of psychoactive mushrooms. In a laboratory setting, a synthetic version of the psilocybin molecule is prepared for research purposes rather than using a psilocybin containing mushrooms. Although synthetic psilocybin is more practical for research studies, the synthetic psilocybin molecule has become separated from its fungal origin. To better understand the mushrooms, specifically of the genus Psilocybe, Pollan teamed up with famous mycologist Paul Stamets.

Do you enjoy a cold, refreshing glass of water on a hot day? Unfortunately, not everyone has that privilege: Over the past three decades, millions of Americans have been exposed to unsafe drinking water.

Science communication is a catch-all term for a variety of applications, like science policy. Often, science policy is thought of at the federal level of government, such as the suggestions handed down by the United States government and others regarding the pandemic response. But because science is so ingrained at all levels of society, science policy can start small at the town or city council level and spread to the state and federal levels.