Keynote Speaker
Lynda Williams (Physics)
Lynda Williams teaches physics at Santa Rosa Junior College. Her extensive science outreach activities, often in the persona of The Physics Chanteuse, have included four albums of science songs (Cosmic Cabaret, Maxwell's Equations, Parody Violation, and her latest, Science Cabaret); several original science theater shows; and featured performances at over 15 STEM festivals and conferences, including Expanding Your Horizons (for middle school girls) and special events honoring the work of physicists Stephen Hawking and Kip Thorne. Williams' creative work has been covered by media outlets such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, National Public Radio, the Chronicle of Higher Education, Physics Today, and People. Additionally, her passion for science literacy informs her efforts as an environmental and peace activist. Williams previously taught at San Francisco State University, where she earned a master’s degree in physics after undergraduate studies in applied mathematics at CSU-Sacramento. Williams' websites include scientainment.com and lyndalovon.com.
Invited Speakers
Eva Amsen (Biochemistry/STEM Outreach & Communication)
Eva Amsen is a writer and science communicator, focused on the common ground between science and the arts. She runs a quarterly newsletter highlighting collaborations and overlap between scientists and musicians. Eva has written about science in culture and society for Nautilus, The Scientist, Spacing Magazine and other places -- including the science blog she has maintained since her days as a PhD student in Toronto. Eva also works in the area of scientific community management and engagement. After six years at publishing companies, she is now Scientific Engagement Manager for the Transforming Genetic Medicine Initiative, based at the Institute of Cancer Research in London.
Jon Chase (Engineering/STEM Outreach & Communication)
Jon Chase is a freelance science communicator and rapper based in South Wales. Fulfilling his mission of making scientific thinking as accessible as possible, his science outreach work can be seen on TV and YouTube and at live in-person workshops. He is arguably the UK's leading science rapper, having been featured at The Science Museum, The Royal Society, and The Royal Institution, and on CBeebies’ Rhyme Rocket, CBBC’s Space Hoppers, and Channel 4 Learning. Jon holds degrees in aerospace engineering, science & science fiction, and science communication.
John Dougherty (Computer Science)
John Dougherty, or "J.D.", has worked at Haverford College since 1997. His research interests include computing education and outreach, accessible computing, and dependable parallel/scientific computing. J.D. is a Senior Member of the ACM, in particular SIGCSE, having served as Symposium Chair in 2008 and in 2014, as well as Program Chair in 2007 and 2013 (Panels/SSs 2006; Publications 2005; Accessibility 2012). Before Haverford, J.D. was an assistant professor of mathematics and computer science at Philadelphia University. He was educated entirely in the Philadelphia area, with a B.A. from La Salle College, M.S. from Drexel University, and Ph.D. from Temple University.
Lawrence Lesser (Mathematics/Statistics)
Dr. Larry Lesser is a statistics/mathematics education professor at The University of Texas at El Paso, where he's been since 2004. He has 100 peer-reviewed papers and books, two National Science Foundation grants (with Penn State’s Dennis Pearl and Perimeter College at Georgia State University’s John Weber), and has won statewide teaching awards (e.g., UT-ROTA, Minnie Stevens Piper Professor). His math-and-music outreach has yielded 70 published songs, a dozen national contest awards, dozens of conference performances or radio/TV appearances, five journal articles, and an issue of The Mini Page. Lesser’s websites include math.utep.edu/Faculty/lesser and math.utep.edu/Faculty/lesser/Mathemusician.html.
Vaughn Watson (Education)
Vaughn W. M. Watson is an assistant professor of English Education in the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University. His research focuses on the interplay of literacy and identities in the lived experiences of Black youth, youth of color, and immigrant youth. Watson’s research examines social and cultural contexts of youth’s practices within and beyond school, including contexts of English education, civic learning and action, and qualitative participatory research methodologies. He has published research findings in journals including the Review of Research in Education (in press); the American Educational Research Journal; Urban Education; Literacy; the International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education; and the Michigan Reading Journal. Watson taught high school English for 12 years in New York City.