Research

Nominations open for UK-CARES Faculty Fellows in Science Communication

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aerial photo of UK's campus with W.T. Young Library in center

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 23, 2023) — The University of Kentucky Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences (UK-CARES) is taking nominations for the fourth cohort of Faculty Fellows in Science Communication.

The eight-month coaching program provides faculty with skills training for communicating science to a broad audience, leading to enhanced ability for outreach and success in research, teaching and service.

“Being able to communicate science to various audiences is a skill. Science communication is especially important when building trust and prompting action with audiences outside academia. Evaluations with past fellows show improved confidence in communicating science with various audiences. We are excited to launch our fourth cohort and continue to support faculty in developing the skills necessary to disseminate their important work,” said Stacy Stanifer, Ph.D., co-leader of the UK-CARES Community Engagement Core, an assistant professor in the UK College of Nursing and member of the BREATHE team.

Faculty from UK or any other educational institutions including universities, community and technical colleges, or high schools (public or private) serving the Big Sandy, Kentucky River or Cumberland Valley area of southeastern Kentucky with interest in environmental health science and education are eligible to apply.

“I enjoyed the Faculty Fellows Program as it allowed me to engage with environmental health-related faculty and teachers from across campus and the state of Kentucky. I learned to better communicate my science to a broad audience. This led to increased interactions and leadership opportunities with UK-CARES,” said Kevin Pearson, Ph.D., a former fellow, and professor in the College of Medicine’s Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences.

“The program helped me better serve the community by speaking to them in a way that helps them understand the heart of a matter,” said Lovoria Williams, Ph.D., a former fellow, associate professor in the College of Nursing, director of Community Health Advocacy iNterventions Generating Equity (CHANGE) and associate director of Cancer Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the Markey Cancer Center.

Up to 10 Faculty Fellows will be chosen with programming beginning in September 2023. Fellows will take part in seven workshops held on campus and virtually by nationally known trainers in science communication.

First-round nominations are due by June 2, 2023. Apply online here.

Selected nominees will be invited to complete a full application due by July 14, 2023, that includes a video describing their research, experience or interest in science.

Anyone with questions may contact Kelly Kennoy at Kelly.Kennoy@uky.edu or 859-323-4587.

About UK-CARES
The University of Kentucky Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences (UK-CARES) is a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Core Center to enhance research capacity focused on major environmental health impacts to air and water quality that have been implicated in environmentally induced disease as well as emerging threats to our environment.

The center provides expertise, career development, mentorship, and community-engaged interactions to facilitate innovative discovery and new understandings of environmental factors in disease initiation, progression and outcomes and their community impacts.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.