Carrie Kroehler

Synopsis

Dr. Kroehler teaches the graduate course Communicating Science (GRAD 5144), has helped develop an undergraduate communicating science program, and facilitates communicating science workshops for researchers both on campus and elsewhere. The Center for Communicating Science is aimed at helping researchers learn to communicate more effectively with people outside their specialities.

Description

Dr. Kroehler is a biologist, writer, editor, Virginia Tech graduate school instructor, and associate director of the Center for Communicating Science. In her career, most of her work has focused on "translating" research for non-scientists. She came to believe in the power of play, experiential learning, and hands-off teaching while doing student teaching, working with school groups, and raising my children, and she has put that training and understanding to use in helping researchers learn to communicate more effectively with people outside their specialties. The mission of the Center for Communicating Science is to create and support opportunities for scientists, scholars, health professionals, and others to develop their abilities to communicate and connect. These opportunities include courses and workshops as well as outreach programs, including New River Valley Science on Tap, the Nutshell Games, and Girls Launch!, a kindergarten science visitors project. The Center also collaborates with other researchers to study the impact of their courses and outreach programs. Dr. Kroehler's hope is for people to listen and learn from one each other as we transform our global society into one that sustains all of us and our beautiful, threatened, life-supporting earth.