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
Kika is a scientist and storyteller based in Boulder, Colorado. Outside the office, you can find her chasing snakes with her two daughters, rebuilding her gecko terrariums, or playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends. At Impact Media Lab, Kika collaborates with scientists around the world to create multimedia campaigns that inspire action and awareness.
Keisha
Okafor
Lead Illustrator
Keisha is a Nigerian-American artist and designer whose work depicts joy and celebrates people. In her personal time, you can find Keisha on the hunt for dolls to add to her collection or belting her favorite Spice Girls tracks. Keisha captures the vibrancy of everyday moments in her bold and colorful designs that celebrate her heritage and community.
Emily
Vriesman
Lead Web Designer
Emily is a Midwestern artist and designer whose work is full of bright colors, illustrations, and hand-lettering. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two-year-old daughter. When she's not designing or hanging out with her family, you can find her rooting for her favorite college sports teams: Indiana University and Xavier University!
Alice Sun,
MSJ
Content Strategist & Writer
Alice is a science writer based in Brooklyn, New York. Her work is rooted in curiosity, and covers a wide variety of topics within science, health, and the environment. In her free time, she is most likely nose-deep in a book, baking focaccia or volunteering at her local community garden.
Matt
Talarico
Director of Photography
With over 20 years of experience and a commitment to conservation, Matt combines artistic intuition with technical expertise to tell compelling stories that inspire change. When he's not behind the camera, you can find Matt exploring the mountains, perfecting his sourdough recipe, or nurturing his garden.
Ed
Akselrud
Lead Editor
Ed is a lifelong editor, originally from Ukraine, who aims to elevate documentary films with a powerful and emotive approach to storytelling. His work is set apart by his unique approach to pacing, atmosphere, and musical fidelity. He uses his style to transform broad, complex topics into exciting, inspiring stories.
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.