An ambitious team of

scientists-turned-communicators

Impact Media Lab_Vernal Pools_crew_behind the scenes-11.jpg

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.

let’s collaborate!

meet the lab

A collective of award-winning visual storytellers

Kika Tuff2.png — 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 & Designer**
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 & Brand Designer**
Emily is a Midwestern born and raised 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**

Matt Talarico.png — Matt
Talarico

**Director of Photography**

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… — 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.