STEAM Story Fellows Program

A woman standing at a microphone speaking

Two women sitting across from each other at a table talking

Two men talking, one smiling and the other with their back to the camera

Four people at a table, two with their backs to the camera and two facing the others with engaged looks on their faces

A man standing behind a microphone speaking

A woman standing behind a microphone speaking

Two women talking, one with their back to the camera and the other making a surprised face

A woman standing behind a microphone talking

The STEAM Factory has teamed up with The Story Collider to host the STEAM Story Fellows program!

Why is Storytelling Important?

True, personal stories are a powerful form of communication and public engagement. They are uniquely effective at inviting audiences to explore unfamiliar and intimidating territory, and leave with new perspectives, lasting personal connections, and the desire to return for more. Relative to other forms of information sharing, stories can foster science engagement among non-expert audiences, lead those audiences to perceive scientists as more authentic, and promote perspective-getting, which is an important precursor of attitude change.

Who is The Story Collider

The Story Collider is a nonprofit organization with a mission to reveal the vibrant role that science plays in all our lives through the art of personal storytelling. Whether through educational workshops, live shows, or their podcast that has been downloaded more than 14 million times - The Story Collider’s array of programming is connected through a common thread, their belief that true, personal stories about science create connection, increase empathy and understanding, and transform both the listener and the teller.

2027 STEAM Story Fellows

We are currently accepting applications for the next cohort of STEAM Story Fellows. Whether you are a scientist, a painter, a writer, or a philosopher – everyone’s daily lives are touched by science. STEAM Factory members from all disciplines who have a science story to tell are encouraged to apply!

The STEAM Story Fellows program provides professional development to foster communication skills, build community and promote belonging. When researchers participate in storytelling training programs, they report improvements in their popular and scholarly communication skills, as well as their self-confidence.

Progam Timeline

November 30, 2026 - Application deadline
January 22, 2027 - Full-day storytelling workshop (in-person)
January - March - Story coaching (virtual)
Early April - Live show (in-person) and archive recording

Time Commitment

The STEAM Story Fellows program will run January – April 2027. Programming and time commitments are outlined below.

All STEAM Story Fellows are expected to participate in:

One full-day, in-person workshop to be held on January 22, 2027 on the Columbus campus.
Three to five hour-long story coaching sessions to be held virtually and scheduled at a time that works for both the Fellow and their story coach.
STEAM Story Fellows cohort gatherings (optional, but encouraged).

Five Fellows will be selected to perform their story live as part of an in-person public event to be held in Columbus in April 2027.

Fellows performing in the live show will need to be available for a dress rehearsal the evening before the event.

Fellows who do not perform in the live show will record their story virtually. Recorded stories will be featured in the STEAM Story Archive.

The application deadline is Monday, November 30, 2026.

Apply to be a STEAM Story Fellow

2026 STEAM Story Fellows

Gia Barboza-Salerno, Assistant Professor, Health Behavior and Health Promotion
Kelsea Best, Assistant Professor, Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering
Larissa Boie, Post Doctoral Scholar, Physics
Bridget Henebry, Senior Outreach and Engagement Coordinator, Psychiatry
Elena Kalodner-Martin, Assistant Professor, English
Gala Korniyenko, Lecturer, City and Regional Planning
Telesilla Kotsi, Assistant Professor, Operations and Business Analytics
Cara Lawson, Assistant Professor, Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership
Chia-Hua Lin, Research Scientist, Entomology
Jesse Plascak, Associate Professor, Cancer Prevention and Control
Wayne Schlingman, Associate Professor, Astronomy
Megha Sehgal, Assistant Professor, Psychology
Dominic Stecula, Assistant Professor, Communication
Krystal Taylor, Associate Professor, Mathematics
Matthew Wolkoff, Post Doctoral Scholar, Veterinary Biosciences

Visit the STEAM Factory Story Archive

Questions? Contact us at steamfactory@osu.edu.