I'm a professional
question-asker
at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
in her studio for Fascinating Fails
of the crew who worked on Fascinating Fails episode 2
at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
A little bit about Maren...
Growing up, I never considered myself a 'science person'. With dyscalculia making numbers a challenge, I instead gravitated toward storytelling through poetry, film, and theater. But my never-ending curiosity about how the world works pulled me toward science, and I *accidentally* became a microbiologist (it's a funny story).
I now hold an MSc in science communication and an MSc in medical microbiology, and I've been combining my passion for science and storytelling for over a decade.
As a full-service science communication consultant and media producer, I specialize in:
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Creating science content for audiences who are often overlooked by traditional science media
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Telling the human stories behind the science
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Centering underrepresented voices from history & today
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​Showing audiences that science is an iterative process, not a set body of known facts​
As a science communicator,
I study audience reactions and behaviors: how do people receive and interpret information? I'm particularly interested in audience relationships to 'truth' and 'trust'.
When consulting with clients about communication strategies and when creating media about science, I use these insights to craft research-backed, evidence-based practices.
As a scientist, my areas of expertise are bacteria and fungi. In particular, I've researched the impact of the vaginal microbiome on pregnancy outcomes and long-term maternal health.
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I have previously worked as a laboratory assistant at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and I love nothing more than growing microbes and peering at them down a microscope.