Chemunity

Understanding the importance of effective communication is essential in advancing science in the Information Age. Scientists communicate inwardly with colleagues such as lab mates, professors, and advisors. But more importantly, scientists communicate their findings with government funding agencies and the general public to show the impact of their work on society.

 Dr. Arianne C. Hunter learned about the importance of effective science communication after reading the book “Don’t Be Such A Scientist” by Randy Olson during her 2nd year in graduate school while preparing for her candidacy exam. After applying the tactics in that book, she graduated from the University of Oklahoma as the first black woman with a Ph.D. in organic chemistry. During her time in graduate school, she was a SMART Department of Defense Fellow and after graduation, she was placed at the Defense Forensic Science Center in Atlanta, GA, to fulfill her service agreement from the award. While in this position, she lived in Kuwait, conducting forensic analysis on evidence retrieved by US soldiers and our allies from violent extremist organizations. In the Spring of 2022, Dr. Hunter returned to academia as an NSF Ascend and Presidential Post-Doctoral Fellow at The California Institute of Technology, where she studies the application of electrochemistry and data chemistry in asymmetric organometallic catalysis. 

During this talk, Dr. Hunter will discuss her journey in science as a forensically trained organic chemist and how she has used the power of effective communication to advance her career.