Welcome ORISE Scholar Maira Brondizio!

2024-25 ORISE Research Program Participant

We are excited to welcome Maira Brondizio to the SE CASC team as our 2024-25 ORISE scholar. Learn a bit more about Maira here in this Q&A.

What lead you to the SE CASC?

I’m a Climate Science Program and Communications Scholar ORISE Research Program Participant – which is a long way of saying that I’ll be working on science communications at SE CASC! I first became interested in science communications as a career path during the COVID-19 pandemic when it seemed like all of a sudden everyone on social media was an overnight expert on immunology. Once I started to find the scientists and doctors that were presenting sound research in an engaging way, it clicked for me that I wanted to explore ways to do something similar in the climate science space. At the time, I was working in corporate marketing so I figured, after a stint at Michigan State for my master’s in community sustainability, I could pivot towards the climate communications space.

Tell us about your studies and background

I’ve been really lucky throughout my academic career to have the opportunity to study so many diverse topics. I majored in cognitive systems during my undergrad, and in this program we explored natural and artificial intelligence through the lens of psychology, philosophy, computer science, and linguistics – which was my focus stream. This gave me the chance to study topics ranging from ancient Chinese philosophy, to ethics in computer science, to fungal intelligence. Even though I didn’t pursue this line of academia further, it gave me a great foundation in systems thinking that I took into grad school where I majored in community sustainability. There I was able to take courses in science communications, energy systems, and sustainability science and I used that to develop my own research around hydropower in news media.

Beyond my formal education, I was also raised by scientists, so a lot of my young life was spent in the field “studying” alongside them! I spent my early years in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, taking in the plants, animals, and people. I consider this my first (and lifelong) study of the scientific process.

What are your plans and hopes for the ORISE fellowship?

My biggest hope for my time in the ORISE fellowship is to try out different types of science communications strategies by making different pieces of content. One of the biggest advantages of being in a program like this, and of being placed at SE CASC, is that there is so much room to work with the different kinds of science being produced. So that gives me the chance to try my hand at making different types of content. I’m excited about the network of people I have access to and I plan on leveraging these connections to learn a lot and be a little experimental!

Tell us about you, the person!

My favorite ways to clear my head are to go for a long walk or swim with my latest music obsession, a juicy audiobook, or a chatty podcast (waterproof headphones are a lifesaver). I am also big on cooking and baking, especially bread, and I’m always ready to try a new recipe with my latest farmers market find. Something most people don’t guess about me is that I really like watching sports. I feel like my favorites all offer little glimpses into different parts of my life – soccer from my Brazilian heritage, hockey from my years living in Canada, and women’s basketball from being born a Hoosier! I also love trying out new hobbies and crafts like crochet, painting, and pottery, mostly so that I can find reasons to say “I made that!”

Learn more about the people who make up SE CASC here.