Skype a Scientist

Plant native blooms in time for spring with Philly’s favorite squid scientist Local butterflies and bees need more homes. Philly’s science community has some creative solutions.

Oh hey!! A Billy Penn article all about the Native Plant project is OUT! Featuring interviews from me, @zajic.com @megstampede.bsky.social and @the666cat.bsky.social!

Check it out! billypenn.com/2026/02/24/s...

Big fan of @skypeascientist.bsky.social
I always recommend them as a good place to start if you want to get more public engagement experience as a scientist.

And right now they're funding in-person science communication projects.

For Feeds: 🛟 😷 🧪 #academicsky #phdsky

They're creating community, collaboration and beauty, all in one project. Fund it... It'll make you feel good. 😉

It's that time again! Reposts appreciated, we want to make sure as many potential science communicators see this as possible.

Help fund our 2026 Science IRL mini-grant program! By Skype a Scientist

Last year we were able to give out $8500 thanks to donors who supported this program.

This year we’re starting at a baseline of $3000 (from advent calendar sales). Anything additional raised on this page will go directly to supporting more 2026 projects!

givebutter.com/Science_IRL2...

SCIENCE IRL: Mini-Grant Highlights | Skype a Scientist Get more from Skype a Scientist on Patreon

It’s been a year since we launched the science IRL mini-grant program.

Wanna see what our grantees got up to??

Check it out!
www.patreon.com/posts/scienc...

We’ll be doing this program again in 2026, keep an eye out for the announcement soon!

We’re at 10% of the way funded! Thank you to everyone who supported us so far 🥰

We had our community meeting last night where neighbors voted on the artist and theme! That vote is open until Friday then we can start designing the mural.

Help us fund this project here!

givebutter.com/KenzoMural

a bulletin board with a poster that has a bunch of seed packets hanging from it in cobbs creek park. The poster has milkweed and a monarch and says "Plant native plants"

A poster on a pole that has a bunch of seed packets hanging from it. The poster has bee balm on it with a yellow background and says "Plant native plants"

the same bee balm poster, but now it's on a bulletin board in a city park

bee balm poster is back at it, but now on a column in a park covered in posters

The 2026 native plant project is up and running!

We have 10 seed distribution stations set up all around the city, each thanks to a volunteer poster hoster.

This project was made possible by monthly donors to @skypeascientist.bsky.social and people who bought calendars from SquidFacts.net!

This seems like a great moment to talk about the importance of science communication!

Science communication matters because it connects scientific research with people, giving folks information they need to make informed decisions about everything from health to hazards.

H.A. Brown Elementary School Mural By Skype a Scientist

So, in short, this project rocks. We've done murals before, so we know what we're doing. All we need now is help from people like you.

$10 gets me some paint rollers
$75 gets me a bucket of primer
$150 gets me a day with a power washer
ANY amount helps me pay for labor

givebutter.com/KenzoMural

Reason 6: We are getting the whole community involved
This is a project with BOTH a school AND a neighbors association. That means we'll be bringing families out who go to the school, & people from the pizza joint, & the single people w/2 dogs. We're getting everybody together for science & art!

Reason 5: This location rocks
Community murals work best when they are low and long. This is helpful because we want many people to be able to paint simultaneously and we don't want community members in danger on ladders. This wall is loooong and low. Perfect spot for this project.

Reason 4: Art on schools
Getting kids to care about biodiversity when they're young is important for a lifelong appreciation of the ecosystems with live within.

On top of that, schools in the wealthier neighborhoods all have murals nearby, and this one does not. Let's spread some art around.

Reason 3: We love Kensington
We're based on the border of Fishtown & Kensington. Fishtown has a lot of money, both from the people & businesses who live there, & granting orgs that only support within certain neighborhoods of the city. Kensington has a bad reputation, and gets way fewer resources.

Reason 2: Art as a science communication tool
Here at SaS we use a wide range of tools to communicate science. We know any one method is not going to be effective with everyone! In Philly, murals are a huge part of our culture. Weaving science into public art connects new people with biodiversity.

Reason 1: Biodiversity education
Here in Philadelphia, we share our neighborhoods with hundreds of species, but the biodiversity we live among can be easy to miss. This mural will highlight our local species and have information on how to protect our local biodiversity!

H.A. Brown Elementary School Mural By Skype a Scientist

Science + Art appreciators, we need your help!

We're working with the E. Kensington Neighbors Assn & H.A Brown school to create a community-driven mural on the biodiversity of our Philly neighborhood!

We need your help to fund this project
givebutter.com/KenzoMural

Here's why this is important ⬇️

I get to chat about trees with a kindergarten classroom this week with @skypeascientist.bsky.social and I LOVE some of the questions they sent ahead:

How old is the oldest tree that you have met?

Do you draw pictures of your research and how do you share them with your scientist friends?

So stressed I can barely think

But also I spent some time today talking about the magic of bird migration with 3rd, 5th, and 6th graders through @skypeascientist.bsky.social

And that was so very nice and it made me so happy 🥹

Leafcutter ant holds up a large piece of leaf that says "Call for Scientists."

Seeking scientist volunteers for the 2026 spring semester! Want to practice science communication and help author a 🌟comic🌟 about your research? Apply by 1/25. Please share widely. bit.ly/comicscollabspring2026

Wellll well well if it isn't a new year.

Join us for a semester of connecting classrooms w/science!

We'd love to get 1000 volunteers into the database before our first match (at 582 now).

Scientists, sign up here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Educators, here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Thank you!!

😍😍😍

Alright scientists! It's that time again!

Time to sign up for Skype a Scientist's spring semester.

Want to get matched with a classroom in 2026?

Sign up now 🥰

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Big smile for me today after meeting with a delightfully inquisitive 6th grade science class via @skypeascientist.bsky.social.

Sign ups for the Spring are happening now. Register to help ensure that every kid meets at least one scientist! Also so you get a big smile too. 💙

I had a great time chatting with 7th and 8th graders in New York through @skypeascientist.bsky.social!

We covered things from antibiotics resistance to what it’s like to be a researcher. Their curiosity and questions really reminded me why sharing science matters 💡🙌

This is why we all should participate in @skypeascientist.bsky.social 💙. Sign-ups for spring are happening now.

Our market got cancelled tomorrow (😭) so we have a bunch of these left now!

They're beautiful! You can learn about animals!

So many people in the last 2 weekends have said "Oh we should get this for your mom", and then they get one for the other person's mom. Just sayin'

SquidFacts.net

Arizona!! Dang, good point. Just pick the closest one for now. We really just need to know, if you are always teaching on Monday Wednesday Friday mornings, that we don't match you with a group that only meets during the same time you teach.