Science Communication

As a passionate science communicator, I am heavily involved with a number of science storytelling and outreach programs, including That's Life [Science] (TLS) and Life Science Cafe as well as the Graduate Women in STEM in a leadership capacity.

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That's Life [Science]

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I have been contributing to That's Life [Science] (TLS), a science communication blog run by graduate students, since 2017. For my involvement with TLS, I was nominated and elected as the President of this blog which has ~40 current contributors and readership in 200+ countries. Some of our posts receive thousands of unique hits.

At TLS I have been a writer and peer editor since 2017, managing editor and web & graphic design committee member since 2018, and President for 2019-2021.


Talks

  • The full episode of the The Boring Climate Podcast where Vishwadha Chander has me talking about some of my recent research, on using technology for conservation, and what I'm currently working on.

  • The trailer of The Boring Climate Podcast hosted by Vishwadha Chander is out. Tune in on April 21st 2025 (Monday) for the full episode. I had so much fun shooting for this podcast - three camera set up, at a film studio, the whole shebang was such an interesting experience.

  • LEST Talk (Let's Enjoy Science Together video podcast) - Season 2 speaker

Monitoring Species Distribution in Zambia and India | LEST Talk S2 Ep 9

Cancer diagnosis did not stop my dream of becoming a scientist | LEST Talk S2 Ep 8

  • Paige Warren and Kadambari Devarajan, "Ecology & Evolution's Hidden Figures: A Community Learning Exercise Around Recent Articles on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice", Invited webinar as part of the UMass OEB Seminar Series (November 2020).


Media Coverage - Credits/Quotes/Commentary

  • Trail cameras uncover surprising flexibility in mammal routines, URI study finds (PDF 13MB)- Carlos R Munoz - The Boston Globe

Boston Globe interview of KD in April 13 2025 print edition
  • An ode to joy: Remembering Ajith Kumar [Obituary] - Divya Karnad - Mongabay India (2025)

NatGeo feature of KD on Instagram

Pipettes & Paintbrushes

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2018

(Artist/Poet Collaborator - Michelle Chen)

  • Painting - Data Flurry (Medium - Oil on canvas)

  • Poem - Whiteout

2019

(Artist Collaborator - Sue Kassirer)

  • Sculpture - Carnivores and Camera Traps (Medium - Clay)

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Life Science Café

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I have been working with the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Science Cafe since 2018, helping communicate scientific research with the broader Amherst community.

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We structure these as themed discussions and panels, interweaving an informational interview format with audience Q&A. I have been helping organize Life Science Café since 2018, in addition to hosting a few and handling the video recording as camerawoman since 2019.

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