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In: Cool Science Photo contest, fathead minnow scales, Gavin Dehnert, Serena George, University of Wisconsin-Madison, wound healing in fish

Fish scales from a fathead minnow under a light microscope. Image credit: Serena George, University of Wisconsin-Madison

For the past 14 years, the University of Wisconsin–Madison has conducted a Cool Science Image Contest. This year, one of the winners is Serena George, a graduate student in veterinary medicine and molecular and environmental toxicology who works with Wisconsin Sea Grant Emerging Contaminants Scientist Gavin Dehnert to study how herbicides impact fish health.

George’s image, taken on a light microscope, shows sheets of cells migrating away from the edge of four fathead minnow scales. In a dish in the lab, the cells slough off and move away as they would across the wound of a live fish. By doping the dish with different chemicals, researchers can study the way environmental contaminants affect wound-healing in the wild.

Other images in the contest span a wide range of perception — from molecules interacting in the membranes of individual cells to the stretchy insides of a delicious cheese puff to a sky full of colors made by the strongest solar storm in decades.

The winning entries showcase the research, innovation, scholarship and curiosity of the UW–Madison community through traditional fine art techniques used to study the physics of interacting liquids, the surprising and beautiful results of chemical and geological processes, and new ways to manipulate and reveal biological processes.

The images go on display next week in an exhibit at the McPherson Eye Research Institute’s Mandelbaum and Albert Family Vision Gallery on the ninth floor of the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave. The exhibit, which runs through the end of 2024, opens with a reception — open to the public — at the gallery on Thursday, Oct. 3, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The post Cool science image winner! first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

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Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant

Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/cool-science-image-winner/

Marie Zhuikov

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In: 2 4 D herbicide, Gavin Dehnert, how to create effective scientific posters, Midwest SETAC Meeting poster session 2023, Serena George

Serena George’s poster was runner-up for best poster for the Midwest SETAC Meeting poster session. She is working with Gavin Dehnert, Wisconsin Sea Grant’s emerging contaminants scientist. Image credit: Serena George, University of Wisconsin-Madison

By Serena George, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Research usually entails following strict protocols and replicating experiments. For the Midwest SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry) Meeting poster session, which was held in Milwaukee in mid-April, I thought I would take the opposite approach. I wanted to share the story behind my research and communicate science in a fun and accessible way – showing that research has an exciting plot of overcoming challenges, discovering new things and prompting more questions.

The meeting’s theme was “Applied Environmental Science in Addressing Emerging Contaminants.” My poster followed the story of one such contaminant, the herbicide 2,4-D (2,4-Dichlorophyenoxyacetic acid). Chemicals are often viewed as the “supervillains” in toxicology research, but I tried to frame my 2,4-D character in a different light as he struggled to come to terms with his power and worked diligently to ensure the safety of his fish friends. Emotion can often fuel a scientist’s passion for research, and I think characters can help portray this often-unspoken side of research in a unique way.

This comic-style poster has all the elements of a traditional poster, but I distilled the scientific details to only highlight the essential components (because I am standing at my poster during the session to fill in the details). I also incorporated tips from the #betterposter Generation 2 on YouTube (How to create a better research poster in less time). I used an attention-grabbing title with the main finding as the subheading. The key results and main figures are in the center, already translated for the reader into plain language.

I had so much fun designing this poster and seeing others engage with it. I think it was ultimately successful in attracting viewers and prompting in-depth conversations. Who knows, maybe one day there will be a sequel!

Serena George (left) and Gavin Dehnert with Serena’s poster at the Midwest SETAC Meeting. Submitted photo.

 

The post Using soft skills to communicate hard science first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant

Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/using-soft-skills-to-communicate-hard-science/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=using-soft-skills-to-communicate-hard-science

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