Board

Lucas Kavanagh is the co-founder and content director of Avo Media, a science-focused media production company. With a background in earth and ocean science, he holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Victoria and a master’s degree from McGill University.

For more than a decade, Lucas has specialized in transforming complex scientific ideas into accessible and engaging media through writing, curriculum design, mobile apps, live webcasts, podcasts, and videos. His work has reached tens of millions of viewers worldwide and has been featured on SciShow, PBS Eons, CBC Podcast Playlist, and in The Tyee.

Lucas has been an active member of the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada since 2020 and joined the board of directors in 2023. He lives in beautiful Montréal, Québec.

Zahra Moosavi is the Founder and CEO of BitLab Medical Consulting. She brings over 10 years of experience in pre-clinical research, biotech start-up management, and scientific publication writing and editing. She developed corporate-level project management skills while setting up a biotech lab and later transitioned into strategic medical communications. She works with healthcare brands across US, Canadian, and EU markets, leading a team at BitLab that delivers tailored medical content for pharmaceutical companies.

Her background has shown her how important strong professional development, and a sense of community are for Canadian science communicators. Many have turned to US-based organizations or informal groups because they haven’t found enough support or opportunity locally. In her new role, she plans to offer practical skill-building workshops, expand mentorship opportunities, and host regular networking and career guidance events. Her goal is to support members at all career stages and strengthen the professional community here at home. She also serves as the editor of the Pacemaker newsletter for the American Medical Writers Association and is a member of the chapter’s communications leadership team.

Sumeep is a seasoned, skilled—and somewhat sardonic—communications professional from London, UK—now based in Winnipeg, Canada. He has been working for over 15 years in the communications field, including for the Embassy of Argentina in London, and for the Press and Public Diplomacy Section of the Delegation of the European Union to the USA in Washington, D.C.

For the last ten years, he has built an identity for the International Institute for Sustainable Development’s Experimental Lakes Area in Northern Ontario, bringing a human face, accessibility (and a sense of humour!) to what has become a distinctive science communication brand in Canada.

He manages all media outreach, social media, and communications products for that facility, ensuring the world knows all about how IISD-ELA does freshwater science like nowhere else, why it should matter to you, and how we can translate that science into policy that matters.

He speaks fluent English, Spanish and French.

Rhonda Moore is the Executive Director, Science and Innovation at the Institute on Governance and a contract instructor in Carleton University’s Faculty of Science. Rhonda has worked in policy, research, and communications for almost 20 years, advocating for effective (science) policy and governance through clear and accurate communication.

Science communication is more than simply making science accessible to non-scientists. Done well, science communication helps to build trust and understanding in science, generate support for scientific research, and inform decision-making. Effective science communication is a meaningful and influential part of the ability to do science and a necessary requirement to uphold the social contract between science and society. As an important part of Canada’s science ecosystem, the SWCC is positioned to help mitigate a growing list of social, environmental and economic challenges in Canada and around the world.

Becky Anderson is an interdisciplinary science communicator passionate about bridging the gap between research and practice. She is Communications Manager at the University of Guelph’s Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute, where she supports knowledge mobilization, community engagement, and scientific outreach.

Becky has a BSc in Microbiology and a MSc in Pathobiology from the University of Guelph, where her research focused on antimicrobial resistance in dairy manure. During her graduate studies, she discovered her passion for science communication and using creative approaches to make science accessible, engaging, and meaningful for diverse audiences.

She has a Certification in Science Communication from the Royal Canadian Institute for Science and is currently pursuing a Multimedia Journalism Certification at the University of Toronto. A lifelong reader, Becky combines her love of books, scientific background and communication expertise to support the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada, where she also serves as Co-Chair of the Book Awards Committee.

I’m a science writer who has spent the past decade covering topics related to microbiology and gut health. Besides numerous freelance articles, I’ve written five books related to gut health: two editions of an academic textbook (Academic Press), The Well-Fed Microbiome Cookbook (Rockridge Press) as well as Gut Health For Dummies and IBS For Dummies (Wiley). I’m passionate about scientific storytelling and increasing science capital in all age groups.

I believe this is an important moment for Canadian science communicators: we have unique voices that need to be heard across North America and globally. SWCC has a strong foundation, established through decades of work by dedicated volunteers, and going forward I support an organization with a renewed vision of what it wants to achieve. I am honoured to serve on the SWCC board of directors, collaboratively working to engage its diverse membership as well as the general public.

Jeremy Elder-Jubelin is a communications professional living on unceded and unsurrendered Wolastoqey territory. Menahqesk, now called Saint John, is a traditional gathering place for Wabanaki including Wolastoqiyik, Mi’kmaq and Peskotomuhkatiyik.

As the University of New Brunswick’s Research Engagement Strategist, he works to elevate and disseminate the efforts and accomplishments of the university’s research community, highlighting the people, projects and impacts that help create a better world. A passionate storyteller, he is interested in using science and research communications to educate, inspire and inform audiences in an accessible and compelling way.

He holds two undergraduate degrees from UNB and a master of arts degree in social anthropology from York University, and has worked in communications roles for the past decade.

I left a career in wildlife biology based on a passion for making science accessible and exciting to the masses through storytelling. I’ve been doing that now for nearly 15 years. I fully embrace SWCC’s core mission to further science communication while connecting science journalists. I can’t think of a better way of showing up for our close-knit community than to serve an important role with SWCC as a board member.

Bryce Hoye is a multi-platform journalist for CBC based in Winnipeg. He has worked for Canada’s public broadcaster since 2014 covering a range of topics. He previously spent several field seasons working in wildlife field biology, mainly for Environment Canada. As a journalist, he gravitates toward ecology and conservation, wildlife-human conflict, biodiversity loss and climate change, natural disasters and natural history, LGBTQ2S health and equity, and topics in space sciences — including exoplanet research, the search for life beyond Earth, and UFOs. He was a 2024-25 MIT Knight Science Journalism Fellow.

Dr. Christopher Labos is a cardiologist, a course lecturer in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health at McGill University and an affiliate member of the Department of Global and Public Health. He is a columnist with the Montreal Gazette and Medscape, featured on the Sunday Morning House Call on CJAD radio, and has a regular TV segment with CTV Montreal and CBC Morning Live. He blogs and produces a video series called “On Second Thought” for Medscape. He is an associate with the McGill Office of Science and Society and hosts the award-winning podcast “The Body of Evidence.” He is the author of “Does Coffee Cause Cancer?” a story about food epidemiology and why food headlines are usually wrong. He realizes that half of his research findings will be disproved in five years: he just doesn’t know which half. Occasionally, he finds time to practice as a cardiologist so he can buy groceries. To date no one has offered him his own primetime TV show.

Jenny is a science communicator, writer, and editor with a B.Sc. in Medical Biotechnology and an M.Sc. in Nutritional Science. She currently works full-time as an assistant editor at Discover Magazine, covering a broad range of topics, from medical breakthroughs and pharmacological discoveries to the latest in nutrition, as well as human evolution, psychology, and quirky animal stories.

Since she joined the SWCC in April 2024, she has gained insights from behind the scenes of the Digital Media team and the annual Book Awards, supporting their public communications strategy and helping organize several virtual and in-person events. As a member of the board of directors, Jenny hopes to build bridges between Canadian researchers, students, and the curious public, while sharing her leadership and project management skills.

When she’s not immersed in a popular science book, you’ll find her catching waves or cruising around Vancouver Island on her longboard.

I am a secondary school science teacher currently completing a PhD in Curriculum and Pedagogy at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. My research explores how epistemically reflexive teaching practices can foster science media literacy and better prepare citizens to identify scientific misinformation. My work spans academic and public-facing contexts, including collaborations with Defining Moments Canada and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association to develop accessible, inquiry-based science resources. I am deeply committed to improving public understanding of science through inclusive and engaging communication. I recognize the importance of mentorship and community-building, particularly for writers and communicators navigating an increasingly complex media landscape. Over the past year, I have contributed to SWCC as a member of the Professional Development Committee and have gained a deeper appreciation for its mission to build science capital. I am excited about the opportunity to serve on the board and contribute to SWCC’s growing impact.

Vanessa Nelson is a bilingual communicator with more than 25 years of experience translating often complex information – scientific and other – for the general public. Through her career she has worked with a variety of organizations to develop accessible communications materials, allowing the public to engage with and understand challenging scientific content to help inform their perspectives and decisions. From writing on topics related to renewable energies to health care to aviation, her goal has always been to create engaging content — making the complex comprehensible for all.

I am a quadrilingual communications professional with a passion for health and innovation. I began my career as a science journalist, tackling topics such as neurodevelopmental disorders in Canadian children and stem cell transplants for cancer. I was the project manager for McGill University Health Centre’s award-winning injury prevention program and have led national and international communications initiatives, ranging from healthcare reform to reducing maternal and newborn mortality. Since 2021, I have led the Internal, Scientific and Corporate Communications department at CATALIS Quebec, whose mission is to optimize clinical research and accelerate innovative treatments for patients.

I am honoured to serve on the SWCC Board and play a role in shaping the future of science communication across Canada.

Miranda has spent her career working within the local and national innovation ecosystem, helping technology move through commercialization pipelines, and get into the hands of the right people (be it investors, government funders or ecosystem enablers) at the right time.

Throughout her career, she has supported the development of several major multi-million dollar funding applications, including the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s Major Science Initiatives, Genome Canada’s Large Scale Applied Research Program, and several federal science funding council applications.

Recently she has pivoted her career into science communications and knowledge translation, running her freelance writing and copyediting consulting business, which specifically supports small- and medium-size enterprises, not-for-profits, and other organizations with technical foundations effectively communicate their objectives to broader and more diverse audiences.

Miranda holds a BSc in Cell Biology and MSc in Chemical Engineering, with a research focus on phage systems, synthetic biology, and bioprocessing.

Born in Scotland, I grew up in rural Ontario and attended Concordia University in Tiohtià:ke / Montréal QC. My interests include examining how trust, beliefs, and identity shape public responses to issues like climate change, nuclear power, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence — focusing on how these factors can inform science communication, scholarship, policy, and action in a polarized world. I was privileged to present a summary of my thesis: Public Knowledge of Climate Change in Canada — A Study of Canadian Climate Academics’ and Science Communicators’ Perspectives at SWCC 2025. I am keen to contribute to SWCC’s vision and mission, especially its focus on empowering the public to make informed decisions and deepening trust in science. I can contribute the time and have valuable expertise in conference planning and implementation, as well as experience with board functioning and governance.