In Episode 28 of It’s Time for Science, host Tom explores the world of science communication: what it is, why it matters, and how it connects us all to discovery. This episode features two inspiring guests who are helping make STEM and STEAM education more engaging and accessible: Erin Winick Ahony, science communicator and founder of STEAM Power Media, and Kelly Guarino, Communications Lead at the Ocean Exploration Trust..
Turning Curiosity Into Connection
Erin Winick Anthony’s journey into science communication began with the blending of engineering and education. She grew up in Florida, in a family of teachers and engineers. She watched shuttle launches from her front yard, an experience that sparked her lifelong curiosity about space and science.
Today, Erin utilizes her background in mechanical engineering to translate complex scientific concepts into engaging stories that inspire. Through her company, STEAM Power Media, she helps organizations like NASA, Astrolab, and Mission Unstoppable bring science and engineering to life for the public.
Erin and Tom discuss how hands-on learning shaped her love of engineering and how failure, experimentation, and creativity all play a role in understanding how the world works. “Figuring out why something didn’t work is often the most valuable part of the process,” she explains.
The Art (and Science) of Communication
As Erin puts it, “Anyone can be a science communicator.” Whether through social media, classrooms, or creative projects, communication helps make science more human and relatable. With more than 250,000 followers across various platforms, Erin uses digital storytelling to make space, science, and even competitive pinball (she’s a champion player) both fun and approachable to everyone.
Her career path has included roles as a science reporter for MIT Technology Review and a science communication specialist for NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where she supported the International Space Station program and even earned NASA’s prestigious Silver Snoopy Award.
Erin has also taken her storytelling skills to sea, sailing aboard the E/V Nautilus as a Science Communication Fellow and participating in ocean expeditions that connect classrooms directly to live research happening below the waves.
Exploring the Ocean and New Opportunities
To dive deeper into the work of the E/V Nautilus, Tom talks with Kelly Guarino, Communications Lead and Education Program Coordinator for the Ocean Exploration Trust. Founded by well-known ocean explorer Dr. Robert Ballard, the man who discovered the wreck of the Titanic, the organization sends the Nautilus into previously uncharted areas of the ocean, bringing back discoveries in real-time to students, educators, and the public.
Kelly explains how her team manages live interactions between the Nautilus crew and schools, museums, aquariums, and science centers worldwide. Through these conversations, students get a front-row seat to exploration and learn directly from the scientists and engineers at sea.
Fellowships and Internships at Sea
Kelly also shares exciting opportunities for educators and students to get involved:
- Science Communication Fellowship – Open to both formal and informal educators, this year-long program includes a 3–5 week expedition aboard the E/V Nautilus. Applications are open until December 1, 2025.
- Internship Program – Designed for community college, undergraduate, and graduate students (or recent grads), this program offers four different internship types that include time at sea. Applications are open until January 4, 2026.
These programs are ideal for individuals interested in combining science, communication, and real-world exploration. Learn more at these associated websites:
Ocean Exploration Trust links Website
Science Communication Fellowship Information and Application Packet
Science and Engineering Internship Information and Application Packet
Erin Winick Anthony is the founder of STEAM Power Media, a science communication company focused on digital storytelling. Her clients include everyone from lunar rover company Astrolab to women in STEM-focused TV show Mission Unstoppable to parabolic flight company Zero-G. She holds a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Florida and uses her technical background to serve as a translator between scientists and the public. Erin even sailed on a 2-month ocean expedition aboard the JOIDES Resolution as an onboard outreach officer and as a science communication fellow aboard E/V Nautilus.
Erin previously worked as a science communication specialist at NASA’s Johnson Space Center for the International Space Station where she was awarded NASA’s Silver Snoopy, and as a reporter for MIT Technology Review. She has a social media following of more than 250K (@erinwinick) to whom she shares space, science and pinball content. In her free time you can find her playing competitive pinball, hiking, and going to local musicals in Houston, Texas.
Follow Erin on social media: @erinwinick on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Bluesky, X; @erinwinickanthony on YouTube. You can also find her at linkedin.com/in/erinwinic.
Kelly Guarino is the Communications Lead and Education Program Coordinator for the Ocean Exploration Trust. She is in charge of communicating with and scheduling all of the live interactions between the EV Nautilus and venues across the world, including schools, museums, aquariums, science centers and more. She works with others in the education department with the application process, selection, and coordination of all Science and Engineering Interns and Science Communication Fellows.
Follow along at @NautilusLive on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok; at @EVNautilus on YouTube and X. Follow Ocean Exploration Trust on LinkedIn and Bluesky. You can also search by #NautilusLive!
Bringing Science to Life
From outer space to the deep sea, Episode 28 of It’s Time for Science celebrates the many ways people connect science with storytelling. Erin Winick Anthony and Kelly Guarino demonstrate that science communication isn’t just about sharing facts; it’s about sparking curiosity, building understanding, and inviting everyone to participate in the discovery process.
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