Science as a whole needs a PR campaign,says Kathy Rowlen
SciMatters is an organization that strives to break down the barriers between science and society. SciMatters hopes to demonstrate to the world how science serves us all.
Mending the Rift Between Science and Society
For many years, the scientific community kept the messy, failure-forward reality of the discovery process hidden, fearing it would erode public trust. Unfortunately, that silence created a vacuum that has been filled by a rising tide of misinformation. Campaigns weaponizing selective data and sensationalized claims now cast doubt on everything from vaccine safety to climate change.
Amplified by social media, this has led to a dangerous erosion of trust in scientific institutions. When society loses faith in the scientific process, we become vulnerable to policies that ignore evidence, which puts public health, environmental protection, and technological progress at risk.
Science as a whole needs a PR campaign,
says Kathy Rowlen, CEO of InDevR Inc. and Executive Director of SciMatters.org. The organization’s mission was sparked with the shifting administration in the United States and the anti-science movement loudly gaining momentum. We founded SciMatters.org as a means for changing the trajectory that we’re on as a society and restoring trust in scientific principles. We do this through transparency, education, and helping everyone understand the value of science in their own lives.
Kathy noted that there’s a lot of fearmongering impacting scientific topics like food dyes, seed oils, and even vaccines that have been trusted for decades. However, she believes that if you understand science, it’s not scary at all. Breaking down how mRNA vaccines deliver temporary instructions for immune responses to a cell’s cytoplasm, for example, can help quell misinformed fears about a patient’s DNA being altered because the nucleus (which holds the DNA) remains untouched.
Samba’s Role in Building the Movement
As a team of scientific storytellers and creatives, the mission of SciMatters resonates with us. We help our clients share their stories each day, whether it be through social media campaigns, explainer videos, or technical whitepapers. It’s our goal to make our clients’ technology accessible to their audiences of researchers, healthcare providers, investors, and patients and to create compelling content that drives action.
“When I first heard about the SciMatters initiative, it felt like a great match,” says Jason Amsbaugh, Founder and CEO of Samba Scientific. “Their goal of making science personal and focusing on the human stories behind discoveries is exactly what we believe in at Samba, as well. It’s not just about data; it’s about connecting with people on an emotional level and showing them how science is woven into the fabric of their lives.”
This shared passion quickly evolved into a strategic partnership to help get the movement off the ground.
“Kathy and the SciMatters team already had a powerful mission, but what they really needed was an engine to carry their mission forward,” adds Logan Savidge, an Account Manager and PR Consultant at Samba. “We were genuinely excited to help build the tools and awareness that SciMatters needed to start mobilizing a community. We launched with a focused landing page and an awareness campaign to help recruit the volunteers who will be crucial to lifting SciMatters off the ground.”
For a new organization, attracting passionate, skilled volunteers is a critical first step. Our team developed a dedicated volunteer recruitment landing page to act as a central hub for interested individuals. At the same time, we developed an awareness campaign designed to reach talented students and professionals who could help with everything from script research to animation. These foundational efforts are designed to build the human infrastructure SciMatters needs to create a rich library of content.
What they really needed was an engine to carry their mission forward,says Logan Savidge, PhD
We know SciMatters is joining a vast community of science advocates. A key part of our collaboration is helping them define their unique voice within the chorus. We want to amplify and collaborate with public education channels, scientific content creators and influencers, universities, and individuals working hard to spread the word.
SciMatters also recognizes that many members of their target audience are in younger demographics that may interact with the world in a different way from their team. Connecting with younger generations means talking with them, not just to them. A key goal for SciMatters is to build a framework for recruiting and empowering the next generation.
Creating a space for them to contribute content ideas, provide feedback, and even create their own content will help build a sustainable model where they become co-creators of the mission, ensuring that stories are authentic, relevant, and shared on the platforms they use every day.
Join the Movement to Rebuild Trust
Ultimately, rebuilding trust in science is a community effort. Getting the word out is crucial, which is why we are also supporting SciMatters by sharing their mission with our own network through email and social media promotion. To ensure that their message has a stable and accessible home, we are also hosting the SciMatters website on our server.
Rebuilding trust in science requires a community of passionate advocates. We invite you to join us in supporting SciMatters by following their journey, sharing their content, starting conversations in your own circles, or contributing your time as a SciMatters volunteer. . Let’s work together to replace misinformation with inspiration. It’s time to show the world why science matters.
