Hannah Wistrand, 2021 APS Public Engagement Intern

Biography

SPS Chapter: Colorado School of Mines

My role as a public servant is something I proudly carry into everything I do. From volunteering in my hometown of Battle Ground, WA, to developing a centralized service and philanthropy community on the Colorado School of Mines campus, I am constantly looking for ways to apply my technical knowledge to the world of community engagement. I am currently a Junior in Engineering Physics and Space and Planetary Resources at Mines, and through this opportunity with SPS I hope to further explore how I might apply this passion for community impact to a career in Physics.

When I first arrived on the Mines campus, I found myself most connected to the Physics community, which showed me how my passion for humanity and science could intersect. This community continues to show me the importance of maintaining my sense of wonder and compassion, reminding me of the public good that can be done when we understand that science and engineering are not neutral fields. I have explored these ideas through my involvement in SPS and the Society of Women in Physics, as well as undergraduate research and many other academic and service organizations on campus and in the community. Outside of Physics, I enjoy hiking with my dog, Bailey Grace, serving as a Harvey Scholar, and making music on my own and with the Mines Band.

I plan to pursue a Master’s degree in Material Science and a career in Astrophysics. I know that my future holds a unique goal of bridging science and humanity through interdisciplinary cooperation and community impact, and I am excited to see what this summer has in store.

Internship

Host: American Physical Society

Project

Abstract

As I started my time at APS, the world was beginning to navigate through the next steps of a global pandemic, and our country was leaving behind a period of widespread misinformation and mistrust. During a time when the public needs to know which sources they can trust to make decisions that will directly affect their health, the American Physical Society has set out to help combat the spread of scientific misinformation. In an attempt to determine the most effective strategy for the role APS and its members play in this trying time, a trial campaign was developed to train APS members in effective communication skills. The intention was that these members would discuss commonly misinterpreted scientific topics with their friends and neighbors, then report to the APS team about their experiences. Moving forward from this trial and feedback, APS will learn to define what an “effective strategy” means to their organization and members, as well as be better equipped to continue their pursuits of political and social advocacy. This presentation sets out to discuss the methods of engagement and analysis being used by APS for this goal.

Final Presentation

Internship Blog

Week 1: The Importance of Connection

In my short 4 days here with APS, I have already dared to develop a theme for my summer - connection. In this modern time of teleworking and my work with APS in social networking and collaborative social campaigns, that theme finds a natural home. But in my first week, I have also experienced the value of connection on a much more personal level.

Going into this week, I was excited to meet everyone and work with my new team. I didn’t realize just how much time each day would be spent alone. In reading through past blogs, I became more defeated as it sank in how not “in the same city” all the interns would be this summer. But I am determined to give that traditional glimpse into the life of an SPS intern - just maybe with a modern spin from the chair in my bedroom while my neighbor mows his lawn outside my window. The first couple of days were tricky as I tried to navigate how to connect with the other interns and I did feel pretty isolated. But I’m really looking forward to activities like Bad Physics Movie Night on Friday to build those connections, and don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll still be exploring our own cities to find the best burger places and museums as well - I’ll be sure to include those recommendations as past interns have for DC. And while working from home may have its shortcomings, I think most of my fellow interns can agree on one perk - so many pets!

All considered, this week I really have learned how much I value connection, especially interdisciplinary connection - a sentiment that has been the glue between myself and the amazing people I have met this week. Many important connections and revelations are made when people of diverse backgrounds work together. From my wonderful mentor, Claudia Fracchiolla to the media director of social media for the public engagement team, to Dr. David Helfand who spoke to the SPS interns at lunch on Thursday about his work at Columbia University to introduce science to non-scientists in the “Misinformation Age”, to the other interns, I have seen each individual really working hard to build those connections and share in that value of interdisciplinary cooperation.

My work this summer focuses on utilizing those connections to have meaningful, productive conversations to combat the spread of misinformation. Being able to see the enthusiasm all these people have for improving their communication skills and developing their network has really reinforced my excitement to be working on this project. I have spent this first week researching misinformation, productive discussion tactics, and current events to determine the reasons people have for believing anything they hear.

I am looking forward to jumping right in, sink or swim - but either way learning to breathe - and working with the American Physical Society to develop new ways of communicating with the science and general communities through important, and sometimes difficult, conversations.

Week 2: Communication is Key

For my second week with APS, I was met with a lot of meetings, a lot of questions, and a lot of opportunities to grow. We have hit a slight snag in the main project I am working on, which has required a lot of clarification. Our meetings were very fast-paced and it seems that it is common for ideas to be received but not heard. This week was a lot of learning how to communicate within my department.

I think this is also really important no matter what job you are in. It is important to learn not only how people express their ideas and feelings but also how they receive others’ ideas and feedback. By assuming everyone is interpreting the discussion the same way, it is easy to run into issues with project and goal definition, meeting goals, and clarifying concerns. Going through this past week, I have really learned to value my skills of understanding the different perspectives of the individuals on my team and the context in which they understand ideas and problems. I have enjoyed being able to build and practice these skills, even if the situation may be stressful at times.

In reflecting upon this experience, I realize that I am increasingly grateful for my amazing, level-headed, insightful mentor - Claudia Fracchiolla. She has been very supportive of my exploration in communication tactics as well as my ambitions as a student intern interested in many different career paths. After this week I am feeling much more confident in my ability to do this job well and impactfully, excited about the connections I am making, and grateful for the willingness of my colleagues to take the time to talk with me about my future ambitions.

Stay curious, everyone

Hannah Wistrand

P.S.

I promised in my last entry that I would also discuss my escapades and restaurant recommendations as an intern based in Colorado. So I’ll share a quick adventure I was able to have last week. After having a great evening playing games with my fellow SPS interns, a friend and I decided to celebrate National Iced Tea day in style and drove around Colorado looking for a nice place to get some iced tea. We stumbled upon The Rooftop Tavern in the small town of Morrison, CO (near Red Rocks Amphitheater). With a wonderful atmosphere and great service, finding a place such as this so close was a real treat!

Week 3: Creating Meaningful Connections

This week seemed to go by fast! It was mostly spent in meetings, webinars, and brainstorming sessions, but ended with me going home to Washington for the weekend. That was the theme for this week - exploring the different types of meaningful connections in my life. I have not been home since last June and having the opportunity to be with my parents, get caught up with childhood friends, and be inspired by the nature I grew up in was the most personal connection I had this week. I was able to see my family and hometown for the first time in months, as well as visit the newly renovated waterfront in Vancouver, WA - absolutely worth the visit if you’re in the area.

While these comfortable connections left me feeling refreshed and ready to head into the next week, they were also a reminder of how important it is to give yourself the time and space to make new connections. It can be a little scary at first, especially given the social minefield of media and controversy. I know that as someone who values strong beliefs and factual information, it is difficult for me to discuss important topics with old and new connections alike when I feel like I do not have all the information. But I also realize there is a distinction between a discussion and a debate, as the former lends itself to being able to admit what you don’t know or understand in a safe environment conducive to learning. This week was really all about exploring this idea more - figuring out how to hold productive and meaningful discussions with your neighbors on important, and sometimes controversial topics. Throughout the week I was encouraged to face this insecurity of mine in order to determine how to guide other science-driven members of our community to have those important conversations and make those meaningful connections.

I worked on getting a survey together to gauge how interested our members were in being trained to have these conversations and how important they felt this issue was. I also worked on analyzing the social media accounts of Physics Central to determine how we might improve engagement. Physics Central is this super cool offshoot of APS dedicated to connecting physicists and physics enthusiasts through meaningful connections online, hoping to facilitate discussions about how to better the physics community so our engaged membership can make a difference in the general and science communities.

Relevant to this week’s theme, I would like to bring attention this weekend as a perfect example of when and how to practice societal productivity through meaningful connections. This Saturday was Juneteenth. While I don’t feel qualified to discuss the day in depth here, I would encourage anyone reading this to take some time to educate themselves and practice having those meaningful discussions about what you learn with neighbors and friends. My work this summer has shown me that this is where the most productive conversations happen - at home or in the neighborhood with those people you trust. There are lots of amazing organizations that exist to help facilitate these conversations as well as your own learning, too - including Black in Physics, a group I have had the opportunity to learn more about this summer. Just remember to keep a compassionate and open heart, and understand that we all come from different backgrounds with different definitions of “meaningful” and “productive”. From a scientific perspective, be willing to question your beliefs when new evidence is presented.

So get out there and find some meaningful connections - with family, friends, new members in your community, or by following Physics Central.

Stay curious, everyone

Week 4: Yes, And: Confirming My Path

This past week has been pretty tricky. I’m getting into more analysis and engagement work, trying to understand the audience we are reaching with this project against science misinformation and vaccine hesitancy. We sent out the survey (which I’m actually pretty proud of) on Wednesday and by Thursday we had 120 responses. Being a student whose forms usually only go out to other students and who *may* see numbers upwards of...10... this response was very exciting and I couldn’t wait to get started on analysis. I think this response has really given me a boost of energy in this position.

It has been a tough couple of weeks as this project has shifted its timeline and there has been what has felt like a lot of waiting. But that’s what happens when you work with the public. Everyone has their own complex lives and even the fact that they are willing to take some of their time to try and engage in programs like ours is exceptional.

This experience has been incredibly validating for me as a student who has always worried that a scientific career would not be fulfilling to me in its community-orientation. Being able to see how many physicists are passionate about improving their communities or working to provide more resources and support to their peers in science, engineering, humanitarian work, policy, and service has really settled some of those fears for me. I don’t feel like my only path will be science communication or policy (both of which I find incredibly interesting), but I could work as a political advocate while being a researcher, or as a diplomatic advisor, or run for political office. While I used to fear being boxed in in this wide field of physics, I am really starting to have my career decision reaffirmed in its complex entirety. I’ve always felt I was headed down a different path than a lot of my STEM peers, and I am excited to be learning that I have made some good decisions along the way.

Another moment of affirmation this week came during a lunch with 2006 Physics Nobel Prize recipient, Dr. John Mather. Dr. Mather’s career has always interested me, exciting the astrophysics student in me. But in having this opportunity to actually have a discussion with him, I learned more about the values he carries for positive and effective communication skills and support for young scientists. I asked him about his stance on the neutrality of science and while that question stumped him a bit (he did have some good insight into how we must remember that innovation of science has historically also led to innovation of war, and suggested the read: Accessory to War by Neil deGrasse Tyson), I was also able to get his input on the more personal matter of my decision to pursue a Master’s degree in material science. I have been incredibly nervous about this decision, knowing I value interdisciplinary work and skills, but not sure if the members of the astrophysics community would see that background as advantageous. Dr. Mather’s response surprised and delighted me. He said “the physics of materials is absolutely essential to the success of all our missions”. That was the greatest news I’ve heard in a long time.

All in all, it was a pretty successful, busy week. I also had the chance to go swing dancing at the Mercury Cafe in Denver on Thursday night. That was a blast! Me and my two left feet were very grateful to have two of my good friends and fellow physics students there who knew what they were doing and made it a fun experience. I’ve been trying to practice this attitude of “yes, and” in everything I do (while understanding and respecting my personal limits), and that night was a great example of when that attitude led to a memorable experience I may not have tried otherwise.

So in summary, I encourage you to trust your instincts, follow your own path, and practice that “yes, and” mindset - you never know where it might lead you, personally or professionally.

And, as always,

Stay curious, everyone

Week 5: Qualitative Analysis of People (Can Lead to Better Relationships)

This week involved analyzing a lot of different people in a lot of different ways. Now I know that sounds a bit snobby or judgemental but hear me out. For the work I am doing on combating scientific misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, it was my job this week to analyze all the responses we got on our interest survey. I analyzed which of our members responded, their levels of interest, their motivations for interest, their perspectives, their concerns, and their potential for future involvement. While to many of the physics students who might be reading this blog entry (and by many I mean like, the 5) this type of work may not sound very exciting or interesting, this is something I love doing. I have stated previously that I have a passion for serving others. It is through understanding others that you are able to determine how best to serve them. That is why I find this work particularly rewarding. I am able to take the time and effort to complete the tedious task of profiling each individual respondent in order to better understand how we can serve our members through this initiative, which is something that is often overlooked in large organizations due to limited resources. However, it is an incredibly important step. For example, in analyzing these responses I was able to develop suggestions on how to move forward with this initiative in a more member-oriented way, addressing concerns of uncertainty and lack of training, and in a way that will better prepare us and our members for future endeavors.

I have also been continuing work on analyzing our social media platforms and online communities to try and better understand how we can engage and serve our members there. I have been doing a deep dive into how followers interact with us and with each other, where they come from, and what they are looking to gain as a result of engaging on these platforms. Once again, I have been reminded of the importance of truly understanding your audience (or stakeholders) before trying to serve them. There is nothing worse than a product that nobody asked for and nobody wants that you put a couple hundred hours and several thousand dollars into producing.

Finally, I have also been in a position to analyze the “members” of my own life and to reflect on how to best serve the relationships that surround me. It has been a tough time for my family and balancing work responsibilities, and I have been learning how to take what I know about the perspectives and experiences of different people in my life to best communicate with them the type of support I need as well as the type of support I can provide them. By understanding how others communicate and receive information and feedback, I have found these difficult conversations to be going much more smoothly. Finding the most straightforward path to effective communication for each person I talk to has enabled me to be there for my family, lean on the friends who have my back, and sort through the stresses of work. So I guess my takeaway from this week is to listen and reflect. Do not take for granted casual communication and think about how you can improve your skills and lessen your stressors by considering the perspectives and priorities of people in your life - with friends, family, and colleagues.

And, as always

Stay curious, everyone

Week 6: Energizing Myself Professionally Through Personal Connections

I did it! My first professional presentation! I was pretty nervous, and got little to no sleep the night before, but I did it. I presented to my team of APS Public Engagement and Office of External Affairs members my suggestions on how to move forward with the misinformation campaign. After a couple weeks of analysis and research, I compiled everything into a consultation presentation and gave clear direction on next steps.

This was a very exciting time for me, as I always seem to struggle with decision-making in jobs. Being given the responsibility to advise on a topic like this really encouraged me to face this insecurity, as I knew the people I was working with really wanted a clear direction forward. They were all incredibly supportive and excited to hear what I had to say, and coming out of that interaction I definitely feel more prepared to tackle these next steps and similar situations in my future endeavors.

Later in the week I finally decided on a topic for the SPS intern demo competition. I had been researching in my spare time for a couple of weeks, looking for something that I could completely cover, start to finish, in 30 seconds that would be engaging for students and fun for teachers. I landed on a physical demonstration of the conservation of energy in a supernova - a seemingly complicated topic until you understand it visually. I am super excited about this and will be filming tonight and editing tomorrow. I also love video editing (as the daughter of two video production teachers, it’s in my blood I guess) so I am very excited for that part of it. I think I am going to keep it pretty simple and straightforward though - no need for special effects or graphics this time. But if you see the demo at some point (which I encourage everyone (yes, my 5 readers again) to check out all the intern demos when you get a chance) think of me fondly!

The rest of the week was spent organizing the next steps for this misinformation campaign and brainstorming our social media strategy, now that we have some assistance from our communications department (which I am super pumped about). I also am trying to figure out what to do about my SPS presentation and abstract, as my work has kind of been all over the place - but I will keep you updated on that.

On the personal side of things this week, I had a pretty full schedule. I’ve been leaning on a lot of love this past week and am so thankful for my friends and family here in Colorado. It’s difficult being an out of state student sometimes, but finding that group of friends who makes you feel worth something is an irreplaceable, confidence-boosting experience that I would never take back. A couple of friends and I enjoyed the holiday on Monday and tackled a 14-er hike (pictures below). Although I was incredibly slow and stumbled my way to the top, I was very proud of myself and reminded of how thankful I am for kind and patient friends. My sore muscles the next day at work served as a reminder of what amazing things I could accomplish. We then had a nice dinner at our regular Tuesday spot (Buffalo Wild Wings), and got caught up with Loki on Wednesday (I can’t wait for the finale next week!). On Thursday we went to see Black Widow in theaters (my first Marvel movie IN THEATERS after watching the entire MCU for the first time this past semester) which was very exciting. An incredibly well-done movie, and exciting as a young woman who has always dreamed of an accurate and satisfying portrayal on an action screen. My friend and I went to Elitch Gardens on Friday to ride a couple of rollercoasters, and then I enjoyed the All-Star Futures game with another good friend of mine earlier in the day on Sunday. A pretty packed week of professional and personal excitement, and one that I desperately needed.

So, I think that is my takeaway for this week. When you are feeling a lull in motivation or energy, don’t be afraid to lean on the people (or person) who make you feel worth something. That confidence will bleed into your professional endeavors and make you a better friend and employee. Let yourself be loved. Let yourself be supported. We all need it sometimes.

And stay curious, everyone

Hannah Wistrand

P.S. Please enjoy the GIF below that I made of myself getting hit in the face while attempting my demo - do not try this demo by yourself

Week 7: Figuring it Out

This week was a lot of figuring things out. I know, 7 weeks in, I should have it figured out by now, right?

First of all, I would like to mention that nobody ever *really* has it figured out. The more I talk with seasoned professionals, the more I am made aware of this fact. The people we admire the most are still constantly learning, and I think that is part of what makes them admirable. Having that awareness of what you don’t know is sometimes even more important than the confidence you carry in what you do know. Being able to see how your skills might be supplemented by someone else or vice versa is an incredibly valuable team skill. The SPS interns actually had a resume building workshop this week in which we created resumes of our combined skills. While this was a great exercise and learning opportunity for individuals, it was also a great chance to see how people from different backgrounds could really work together and supplement one another, as we joked “if only we were one person”!

That’s something I think a lot of people forget. Knowing how you fit into the pre-existing team at a job is equally as important as the technical skills you offer. Because, although you’re not all one person, you can work cohesively like one.

I’ve had a couple other examples of “figuring it out” this week as well. At work, we’ve been preparing for our first training sessions next week for the vaccine hesitancy campaign. Because this is a new program and a new collaboration, there has been a lot of brainstorming, trying to figure out how to best analyze the engagement of our members/participants and maintain strong communication with everyone. I have also spent this week figuring out how to develop a social media revival for PhysicsCentral - solutions which have included drawing on other people much more experienced than I am and admitting what I do not know.

On the SPS side of things, I dedicated some time this week to writing my abstract for my final presentation. I have written abstracts and presentations before, but this process was new, definitely requiring some question-asking and figuring it out. I have never written an abstract before the presentation before, and found myself quite lost at the beginning of the week. However, with lots of help from my mentor, my friends, and my family, I was able to find my way through the task and come up with a comprehensive piece to describe my chaotic, ever-changing summer of work.

It has been quite the week, and quite the summer. As I near the end, I recognize how thankful I am for all the support and guidance I have received as I continue to figure it all out. I know there is still a lot of work to be done, and challenges to face, but I am starting to feel very well equipped for both this job and my future as a physicist.

Stay curious, everyone

Week 8: We Did It!

This was it! This was the week! We had our two training sessions for members about combating the spread of scientific misinformation, and especially misinformation about vaccine hesitancy. There were two sessions, held Monday and Thursday evening. The first session was purely informative, and the second session saw our members interacting with one another, practicing their new communication skills. For these training sessions, APS partnered with the organization Critica, a “community committed to making rational decisions about health and security”.

When I started working with this team at APS this summer, the decision had just been made to postpone these training sessions, due to an unexpected drop in member registration for the sessions. We decided it wasn’t fair to ask Critica to put in so much work for only 12 people, when we had originally expected around 30 participants. After postponing, it was my job to figure out a way to gauge the interest level of our members in the training sessions and campaign topic of vaccine hesitancy, and then suggest a strategy to ensure participation and measure engagement. After this week, I feel like I did a pretty good job figuring out how to maximize participation, with more than 50 participants in Monday’s session and over 30 in Thursday’s.

It’s been a difficult summer at some points. I have definitely felt blocked at times, not sure if the work I have been doing has been having any sort of impact. But seeing this difference in participation and engagement because of the work I have done has really boosted my self-confidence. I can’t believe we are almost to the end, but I am so incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity to work with this team of Public Engagement and External Affairs at APS, and can’t wait to see where this work goes in the future.

Now for the personal updates. This week ended on a really great note, as 2 of my best friends came back into town for a few days. We haven’t been together for over a year and a half, when they both left Mines to pursue other things. It was amazing reconnecting with the both of them, and really rejuvenating to be back in that dynamic of friendship with them. One of the best ways I have found to re-calibrate my mind, my energy, and my confidence is to reconnect with friends. I would suggest you take some time to do just that this week - it may be just what you or that friend needs!

And, as always, stay curious, everyone

Week 9: How We Got Here

Almost there. It seems like the closer we get to week 10, the quicker the days go by. Maybe it’s because I feel settled into my routine? I’m not sure, but as Brad put it this week, June felt like a week, July felt like a day, and August feels like an hour. This week was mostly spent getting ready for next week - creating my slides for the symposium, figuring out how my mentor wants me to wrap up my work, and emotionally preparing to say goodbye. Even though we were online all summer, I do feel connected to everyone I’ve been working with. Next week is going to be hard.

I also had the opportunity to be a panelist at the AAPT meeting, along with Casey and Kirk and organized by Alan, to discuss our experiences with high school physics. It was an amazing opportunity to reflect on my physics journey, and pay special attention to the amazing teachers and professors who have supported and guided me throughout. I want to give a huge shoutout to my high school physics teacher, Mr. Macon, for inspiring me to pursue physics by showing how fun, creative, and welcoming the subject and physics community is. Without those positive formative experiences in high school, I don’t know if I would have seen the potential in pursuing a degree in physics, and thus wouldn’t have found this community of such amazing people. I am truly forever grateful.

I know I’ll be doing more reflection next week about this summer’s experience and so this has been a nice introduction to that mindset. Looking forward, I was also able to meet with the student activities coordinator of the Mines campus to discuss the next steps of my campus project around organizing the different community service clubs and efforts on campus. I am super excited for the next steps on that. So, as this journey comes to a close, I know the next phase of my career holds excitement of it’s own. I can never be sad for too long - I like to keep myself busy too much. But until then, I’m going to try and make the most of this next week, and I’ll let you know how it goes.

Until then, stay curious, everyone

Week 10: Over and Out

That’s a wrap. Signed, sealed, delivered. End scene. Or is it “and” scene... I’ve never been clear on that. Well, it’s a good thing this wasn’t an acting internship. Goodness, my apologies, as I write this, my heart is still going a million miles an hour off the adrenaline from this morning’s symposium. Seeing everyone figure out how to condense 10 weeks of work into 6 minute presentations was truly inspiring, and I am incredibly proud to have been considered in the same category as so many of my wonderful peers this summer.

This week has been the perfect end to this great experience. After sending out our call to action to our members to engage in their communities around vaccine hesitancy, we met a few times out of nervousness to discuss the lack of feedback we were receiving. While our members had seemed particularly energized after the training sessions, we hadn’t received any responses to our email chains or online community platforms regarding people’s progress. In response to this uncertainty, my mentor and I decided to take it upon ourselves to do exactly what we had been asking our members to do all summer - engage in our communities. So I logged on to Nextdoor, the platform I had so fervently admonished all summer, to see if I could engage in a productive discussion with my neighbors. To my surprise, in 24 hours, I had over 200 comments.

Over the next several days I worked tirelessly to respond to everyone who had and continued to comment. Working into the evenings, I responded to everyone I could, working to understand and cite factual information in an engaging and empathetic manner. Over the course of these last couple of days, I received countless comments thanking me for how I was forming my responses and taking the time to respond to everyone. I had people who disagreed with me in the comments reach out privately to thank me for the civil discussion, and I could see mindsets changing as I was able to address the real concerns of my neighbors in a positive environment. This experience showed me that our efforts all summer really had the potential to make a positive impact. I saw that, by training APS members and other scientists and community members in this method of communication, we might be able to find common ground on political and social issues rattling our nation and world, and move forward together with complete information and empathy.

This was a great end to my time with the APS Public Engagement and Office of External Affairs this summer. I am so thankful for my wonderful mentor, Claudia Fracchiolla, and teammates Callie Pruett and Francis Slakey. Their unwavering support for my work and my ambitions has shown me a world of possibilities for my future and taught me much about the inner workings of public engagement, policy, and communication - skills and insight I will carry with me into every future venture. I am glad I was able to learn so many new things this summer, and encourage you and every SPS intern to do the same. So with that, thank you, and,

Stay curious, everyone