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Who or what inspired you to become a scientist?
I’m so lucky to have had amazing science and math teachers and a physics teacher dad. My dad used to visit elementary schools in my hometown as “Mr. Science.” He’d do silly demonstrations with water rockets and all kinds of gadgets. I’ve grown up knowing that getting people excited about science — showing them that science belongs to everyone — is as important as doing science.

What’s the focus of your research?
I’m a teaching prof so I’m really interested in how to engage students in large classes and help them develop and apply science communication skills. I also study the media’s role in shaping people’s perceptions of science and scientists.

When you’re not at work, what do you enjoy doing?
I have two little kids who are endlessly curious, so I love talking to them about science and nature. The other day my son asked how many cells are in a cell. It sparked an awesome conversation about what cells are made of and what they do. I’m lucky — science communication is my job and a hobby!

Katie completed her undergrad in Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo, where she became very interested in movement disorders. She then completed her master’s at King’s College London in the U.K. with a focus on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). She continued to study ALS for her Ph.D. in the lab of Michael Strong at Western. Katie then went to Columbia University in New York City for a master’s in journalism. She worked as a science journalist in New York before coming to McMaster to teach science communication.