This "Immune Booster" episode features Dr. Amy Bernard, an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado and a passionate science communicator. The discussion highlights her non-traditional career trajectory, which spans immunology research (human B cell tolerance in lupus), extensive teaching roles, hospital guideline writing, and a pivotal role in establishing a human immunology and immunotherapy initiative.
Dr. Bernard emphasizes the critical importance of science communication, particularly for foundational scientists, to bridge the gap between complex research and the public. She describes her methods for translating scientific jargon into accessible language through public-facing articles and summaries, stressing the need to showcase "small wins" and impact frequently. The conversation also delves into the role of social media in science communication, with Dr. Bernard actively contributing to platforms like "Unbiased Science" and her own "@funsizeimmunoninja" accounts. She offers practical advice for young scientists looking to engage in science communication, advocating for workshops, social media engagement, and accessible writing platforms.
Dr. Amy Bernard: A Journey in Immunology and Science Communication
0:03 Introduction: This special "Immune Booster" episode features Dr. Amy Bernard, an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado medical campus, renowned for her outstanding science communication efforts.
0:41 Background and Nickname: Dr. Bernard is active on the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) public communications committee and social media, known by her handle "@funsizeimmunoninja."
1:37 Non-Traditional Career Path: Dr. Bernard's career started traditionally with a biology undergraduate degree and a PhD in Immunology from the University of Rochester.
3:15 PhD Research: Her doctoral work focused on human B cell development, specifically investigating VH434 B cells in lupus patients as a model for human B cell tolerance.
3:01 Postdoctoral Work: She completed two postdocs; one in developmental biology (initially for "fun," but returned to immunology) and another in immunology.
5:22 Undergraduate Teaching Experience: She took an undergraduate teaching job at CU Denver, teaching four classes per semester (Immunology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Virology), which provided extensive experience but ultimately led to burnout due to the heavy workload.
6:35 Children's Hospital Role: Dr. Bernard spent a year at Children's Hospital, helping physicians write guidelines and pathways for various medical conditions by translating scientific literature.
7:01 Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative: She was later hired back by her former postdoc boss to coordinate a major $20 million Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative at the University of Colorado.
8:36 "Fun-Size Human Immunology" Workshops: As part of the initiative, she developed intensive three-day workshops for faculty and postdocs without formal immunology training, aimed at quickly educating them on core immunology concepts, disease states, and therapeutics. These workshops saw significant demand.
10:56 Current Teaching & Science Communication Focus: Dr. Bernard now teaches medical, physician assistant, and graduate students, with a growing focus on science communication.
11:31 Advice on Career Paths: She encourages listeners, especially young scientists, to embrace non-traditional career paths and to explore opportunities that align with their passion, rather than adhering strictly to conventional routes.
13:05 Bridging the Gap in Science: Dr. Bernard's role involves working with basic scientists to translate their research for the general public, aiming to garner recognition and funding for foundational science, which often goes unnoticed compared to clinical applications.
15:19 Overcoming Barriers: She highlights two main barriers to public understanding of science: paywalls in scientific journals and scientific jargon. Her work focuses on removing the jargon barrier.
17:17 Communicating "Small Wins": Dr. Bernard emphasizes the importance of scientists communicating their ongoing "small wins" and the daily impact of their research, rather than waiting years for major publications.
18:31 Science Communication Process: She initiates contact with scientists, asks them to provide recent papers and answer a questionnaire about their work and career, then writes accessible "Meet the Scientist" profiles and "Exciting Discoveries" summaries for the public-facing website.
22:50 Trusted Sources & Social Media: Dr. Bernard contributes to "Unbiased Science," a platform that provides evidence-based science communication through podcasts, Substacks, and social media visuals, always citing scientific literature and accessible sources.
25:10 Importance of Social Media: She stresses that scientists must engage with social media because a significant portion of the younger population (around 65% under 30) gets their "news" from these platforms, and scientists need to be present to share accurate information.
26:49 Advice for Young Scientists: Her advice includes taking science communication workshops (e.g., CCTSI's free remote workshop, "Invest in Science" workshops), cautiously engaging with social media (like Instagram), and writing for platforms designed for trainees, such as "Science Bites."
29:36 Mandatory Science Communication: Dr. Bernard believes science communication should be a mandatory component of science training, stating that scientists "can't hide in labs anymore."
30:53 Fun Tidbit: Her "Funsize Immuno Ninja" handle refers to her height (5'2") and her achievement of a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo alongside her children.