Researcher(s)
- Annelise Lakatta, Biological Sciences, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Eileen Loftus, Science Communications, Nemours Children's Health
Abstract
Science communication is essential for translating complex healthcare research into accessible, impactful messages. Through the Delaware INBRE program at Nemours Children’s Health, this internship focused on two tracks: internal communication with the Biomedical Research Informatics Center (BRIC) and external outreach with the Public Relations and Science Writing teams. Internally, work with BRIC aimed to promote bioinformatics and data science services across the institution. A service guide was developed to help researchers navigate BRIC resources, and six spotlight stories were created to showcase key projects and team members. This enhanced internal awareness of BRIC’s capabilities and encouraged greater engagement with research support. Externally, collaboration with the PR team emphasized science storytelling for public audiences. The full media workflow was observed: from identifying research stories to producing blog posts and press releases. One featured piece focused on a study using single-session interventions to support patients with type 1 diabetes and depression. A blog post was written to share the study’s goals and significance in an accessible format. This process highlighted the power of storytelling in making pediatric research relevant and accessible to the broader community. Together, these efforts demonstrate how strategic communication in healthcare settings can strengthen visibility, collaboration, and enhance public trust and awareness. Effective science communication connects researchers, clinicians, and communities in meaningful and lasting ways.