Scientists, Filmmakers, Designers, and Strategists
all working together to tell powerful stories about science.
Our goal is to combine compelling narratives, powerful imagery, and rigorous science to change the world. That’s right, change. the. world.
One powerful media campaign at a time.
meet the lab
A collective of award-winning visual storytellers
Kika
Tuff, PhD
Founder & Creative Director
Bailey
Knudsen
Illustrator & Designer
jackie
mountcastle, MPH
Web & Brand Designer
Alice Sun,
MSJ
Web & Brand Designer
Matt
Talarico
Cinematographer, Producer
Ed
Akselrud
Lead Editor
diego
rivera kohn
Cinematographer
Morgan
Heim, MSJ
Cinematographer
Where did we come from?
In case we haven't bumped into each other at a SciComm workshop, my name is Kika. I started Impact Media Lab in 2016, just a few weeks after finishing my PhD in ecology.
Kika earned her PhD in ecology in 2016 from the University of Colorado at Boulder. At Impact Media Lab, Kika helps scientists and science organizations find the compelling stories in their research and develops media campaigns to share those stories with the world.
It’s not that I disliked being a scientist, but I realized I could do more for science as a communicator than I could as a practicing researcher. Scientists wear so many hats, have so many obligations, are expected to be good at so many things. What if I could help them run their outreach more effectively?
And I didn't just build Impact Media Lab to help scientists. I wanted to help SCIENCE (as in, that process of gaining understanding about our world). I wanted to show people WHY we do what we do, how it works, and why science is worth fighting for.
And I've realized, along the way, that better storytelling helps scientists have more successful careers - write better papers, build stronger grant proposals, and get noticed for new opportunities.
IT TURNS OUT THAT BETTER STORYTELLING IS BETTER FOR YOUR SCIENCE, YOUR CAREER, AND OUR SOCIETY.
So if you want to expand the impacts of your work and open new doors through better communication, then join me, young Jedi, and the other scientists-turned-communicators at Impact Media Lab. We want to help you make huge waves with your work through powerful story- and strategy-driven media.