Dr. Raychelle Burks stumbled into her love for chemistry through Agatha Christie novels and Murder She Wrote episodes with her grandma. Now she’s a Twitter verified chemistry Blackademic that loves to connect one thing to another through pop culture references. In this conversation, we talk about the ways that pop culture and social media increase access to the science world and the visibility of marginalized communities in the STEM field. The presence of platforms like Twitter have taken chemistry off of a pedestal and placed it on an even playing field where all folks can participate. Dr. Burks shares how this digital space has also been a pillar of the community for her through her journey up, around, and outside the Ivory Tower.
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Notes from this Episode
Agatha Christie, the queen of crime chemistry
Abstract of Chapter in Communicating Chemistry through Social Media: Chemists Atwitter
More about Raychelle Burks
After a few years working in a crime lab, Dr. Burks returned to academia, teaching, and forensic science research. An analytical chemist, Dr. Burks enjoys the challenge of developing detection methods for a wide variety of analytes including regulated drugs and explosives. Her current research efforts are focused on the design, fabrication, and analysis of colorimetry sensors that are field portable. To maximize portability, Dr. Burks works on utilizing smartphones as scientific analytical devices.
A chemistry enthusiast, Dr. Burks hopes to ignite her students’ appreciation of chemistry through innovative projects, multi-media education tools, and probably far too many pop culture references. She helps create and organize SciPop Talks!, a popular talk series blending science and pop culture. Dr. Burks is a popular science communicator, appearing on the Science Channel’s Outrageous Acts of Science, ACS Reactions videos, Royal Society of Chemistry podcasts, and at genre conventions such as DragonCon and GeekGirlCon.
Connect with Ray
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrRubidium
Connect with Dr. Josie Ahlquist
Twitter: @josieahlquist
LinkedIn: /JosieAhlquist
Instagram: @josieahlquist
Facebook: Dr. Josie Ahlquist
Email: josie@josieoldsite.meljudsonclientportal.com
About Josie and The Podcast
In each episode, Dr. Josie Ahlquist – digital leadership author, researcher, and speaker – connects tech and leadership in education. This podcast will bring you leaders on-campus and online.
From Senior Vice Presidents on Snapchat, YouTubers receiving billions of views and new media professionals. All through the lens of life, leadership, and legacy. Josie hopes you will not only learn from these digital leaders but laugh as we all explore how to be our best selves online and off.
Thanks for listening!
