About
The Mick Hitchcock, Ph.D., Project for Visualizing Science
The Mick Hitchcock, Ph.D., Project for Visualizing Science is an initiative to prepare students, professionals, and scientists to present science in visual, creative forms. Through curriculum, workshops, and experiential learning opportunities, students learn to communicate science effectively and combat misinformation while building and enhancing their skills for science storytelling.
The Hitchcock Project is housed in the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno. We share content with KUNR Public Radio and are open to additional community partnerships. The project was established through a gift from biochemist and philanthropist Mick Hitchcock, Ph.D., in 2018.
Mick Hitchcock, Ph.D.
Who We Are
The Hitchcock Project team is made up of faculty and students who practice, research, and study science communication and science journalism. Content for our website and social media channels is produced by Hitchcock Project graduate assistants as well as students from relevant courses within the Reynolds School of Journalism.
If you are a current or prospective student who would like to get involved or learn more about the Hitchcock Project, please contact Kelsey Fitzgerald (kmfitzgerald@unr.edu).
Kelsey Fitzgerald, M.A.
Associate Professor of Practice in Science Communication and Hitchcock Project Director
Contact:
kmfitzgerald@unr.edu
Ran Duan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Environmental Communication and Hitchcock Project Researcher
Vanesa De La Cruz Pavas, M.A.
Science Communication Specialist
Connie Ndeleko ’24
Graduate Assistant and Science Reporter
Jayanti Sarkar ’24
Graduate Assistant and Science Reporter
Ray Grosser ’24
Graduate Assistant and Science Reporter
Kat Fulwider ’24
KUNR-Hitchcock Project intern – Fall 2023
Amanda Durand
Science Reporter
Sydney Peerman
Science Reporter
Jack Sabin
Science Reporter
Elizabeth Walsh
Science Reporter
Hannah Maki
Science Reporter
Science Communication Courses at RSJ
Are you interested in learning more about science communication? The Hitchcock Project’s courses prepare students to communicate science and produce localized news about science, health, and the environment that is visually engaging, user-focused, accessible and tailored to the specific needs of our community. Other science-related course offerings from the RSJ cover topics such as data journalism, research, health communication, and more. Upcoming courses include:
SPRING 2024
JOUR 441 – Health Advertising and Marketing
This class aims to help you understand ways in which media framing influences public health. Students are expected to engage in critical thinking as we examine the role of media, persuasion, consumerism, and media selection in today’s health communication environment. Students will learn to dissect the social construction of health and illness and examine the different communication strategies that promote individual/public wellness across various cultures. You will learn the theories, strategies, and techniques that guide public health messaging, and explore the ways in which health practitioners, marketers, educators, politicians, and other key publics shape the direction of societal wellbeing. Throughout the semester, students will apply what they have learned in class as they work on a public health campaign intended to address a specific need in Washoe County.
Instructor: Laura Crosswell, Ph.D.
JOUR 460/660 – News Studio: Science Reporting. Tues/Thurs 9:00 – 10:15am
In this course, we will apply your growing skills in multimedia reporting to tell engaging stories about science, with a focus on climate change in Nevada. We will work to build a basic understanding of climate change in our region and produce stories on current climate-related challenges, projected future climate change impacts, and possible solutions underway in our state and community.
This class is part of the Hitchcock Project for Visualizing Science, however, you do not need a science background to take this class. We will learn how to find stories, how to identify experts, and how to read a scientific paper. We will practice pitching stories, explore the writing process, and experiment with different ways to incorporate visuals, audio, or other multimedia elements to tell compelling and engaging stories about science. We will also learn to think critically about climate misinformation and read and analyze work by science journalists who are at the top of their trade.
Instructor: Kelsey Fitzgerald, M.A.
FALL 2024
JOUR 490A Special Problems: Risk Communication
An introduction to the field of environmental, science, health and risk communication. Class discussions will draw theoretical and conceptual considerations from fields such as environmental sociology, social psychology, visual communication, and risk perception. Topics include, for example, social constructions of environmental issues, environmental discourses in popular culture, scientific uncertainty, pseudoscience and misinformation, technology and system failures, health emergency.
Instructor: Ran Duan, Ph.D.
JOUR 496/696 – Scientific Communication Masterclass (1 credit)
Mondays, 4:00-4:50 pm
This class will teach how to tell engaging stories about complex science with a particular focus on solutions to overcome climate change. Learn to communicate how science and technology can help solve real-world problems, the fundamentals of data visualization, storytelling skills about scientific discoveries, and craft effective visual campaigns to share research findings.
- BCH 496 and JOUR 496 are cross-listed; credit may be earned in one of the two.
- BCH496/JOUR496 will satisfy Silver Core Objective 9: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY
- Prerequisite(s): JOUR 108 or CHEM 121A; Junior or Senior standing.
Instructors: John Cushman, Kelsey Fitzgerald
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that the University of Nevada, Reno is situated on the traditional homelands of the Numu (Northern Paiute), Wašiw (Washoe), Newe (Western Shoshone), and Nuwu (Southern Paiute) peoples. These lands continue to be a gathering place for Indigenous Peoples and we recognize their deep connections to these places. We extend our appreciation for the opportunity to live and learn on their territory.
Share Our Work
Our content is free for republication. We ask that you credit the Hitchcock Project and the name of the reporter for any words, images, or other creative work you would like to republish. Our reporters are building their professional portfolios and would appreciate knowing where their work is being shared; please reach out to our project director, Kelsey Fitzgerald (kmfitzgerald@unr.edu) and let us know how our content is being used!
