Making Chemistry Accessible and Impactful with Ayanna Lynch

💡

How can we design chemistry outreach that sparks long-term curiosity, rather than just a one-off demonstration?

Today on the Science with Impact Podcast, Ayanna Lynch, an early-career chemistry communicator who manages national outreach programs at the American Chemical Society, reveals practical frameworks for making STEM events accessible, measurable, and community-driven.

🤔 Who is this for?

K-12 educators seeking engaging, low-barrier chemistry activities
University researchers aiming to broaden the societal impact of their work
Science-communication professionals refining assessment strategies
Nonprofits and museums building community partnerships around STEM

📋 What is it about?

Ayanna’s journey from a double major in chemistry and art history to a conservation intern at the Getty Museum and then to an ACS outreach coordinator highlights her diverse experience. She creates 'choose-your-own-adventure” activities that engage multiple senses and learning styles. She develops surveys and partners with schools to evaluate the impact of informal learning. She also leverages local industries, such as agriculture and mining, for authentic, place-based chemistry events. Additionally, she uses personal storytelling and online “day-in-the-life” content to diversify STEM career narratives.

🔑

Key Takeaway: Meeting communities where they are—and letting participants guide the experiment—transforms chemistry from a distant subject into a personal, lasting discovery.

⌚️ Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction to Chemistry's Impact

00:38 The Importance of Collaboration in Science

00:54 Meet Ayana Lynch

01:21 Personal Impact of Science

02:12 Applying Scientific Mindset in Daily Life

04:43 Engaging the Public with Science

06:34 The Fusion of Art and Science

07:19 Hands-On Science Communication

10:00 Measuring Engagement and Accessibility

23:01 Building Community Partnerships

26:18 Storytelling in Science

28:40 Day-to-Day Life of a Science Program Manager

29:34 Final Thoughts and Future Questions

📣 Guest:

Ayanna Lynch | Early-career chemistry communicator; Program Coordinator, American Chemical Society Outreach

🎙️ Host

I’m Vanessa Rosa, Ph.D., founder of Science with Impact, where we help research organizations transform scientific achievements into measurable societal outcomes.

💬 Know someone?

If you know of a colleague seeking support in measuring (program evaluation, statistics/data analysis, and reporting) and communicating (illustration/animation, data visualization, and presentations) the impact of their STEM research, click here to connect them with Dr. Vanessa Rosa (Founder of Science with Impact).

❤️ Love the cause?

Our mission is to connect every taxpayer with the incredible STEM advancements they help fund and to create new pathways to research financing through industry and informal science communication. To support this mission, we've established a nonprofit. Donate to a campaign to have a direct impact on STEM research.