Science Influencers program caps five years of impact
Federally funded initiative trained science communicators across Texas A&M University System
The Science Influencers program at Texas A&M University has spent the past five years training 48 undergraduate students across The Texas A&M University System to communicate science to public audiences, building a pipeline of graduates now working in industry, government and academia.
Launched in 2021 through a $500,000 grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, NIFA, in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, the initiative was supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates.
The program combined coursework, paid internships and hands-on research experience to prepare students in agriculture, health and environmental sciences to translate complex science for broader audiences.
“This has been a hallmark of my associate professorship and a nationwide well-known program,” said Holli Leggette, Ph.D., project director and associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication. She is also an affiliate member of the Institute of Advancing Health through Agriculture at Texas A&M AgriLife Research.
Built on the idea that researchers who clearly explain their work are stronger advocates for science and agriculture, the program has strengthened Texas A&M AgriLife’s and the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ role in undergraduate science communication training.
“This is about helping scientists communicate at every level,” Leggette said. “It helps them feel confident talking about their work and having those conversations with the public.”
A systemwide approach to science communication
Students worked with basic, applied and social science mentors while creating content for public audiences and presenting their work at a symposium that attracted viewers from across the country and internationally.
Open to undergraduates across the Texas A&M System, the program connected students in fields such as animal science, public health and food systems, forming a network of emerging science communicators. Financial support was a key component, ensuring students could pursue internships regardless of economic background.
“We wanted to remove the barrier of cost and allow these students to gain experience in leading research environments,” Leggette said.
The program also emphasized communicating through digital platforms where audiences already engage with information.
“Every scientist needs to have the ability to communicate their research impact,” Leggette said. “They have to be able to tell their own story.”
Building confidence and career pathways
For many students, the program’s most significant impact was a shift in confidence and perspective.
“The Science Influencers program provided the structure for me to grow as a scientist and as a person,” said Lucie Hartman, a 2022 participant.
Davis Johnson, a 2024 participant, said the experience helped him navigate research environments early in his career.
“If you’re looking for a well-rounded, informative and collaborative science communications experience …,” Johnson said. “It gave me, a first-time lab researcher, communication skills to succeed in a fast-paced research lab.”
For Hector Ibarra, a 2025 participant, the program reshaped how he approaches science.
“I began the cohort focused on the technical aspects of research, but I quickly realized that science communication is about connection, culture and empathy.”
That growth has translated into real-world outcomes. Former program participants have earned national recognition, pursued advanced degrees and moved into roles across industry, academia and government. Others have leveraged internships into full-time careers, including Marisol Vazquez, a 2024 participant who now serves as a USDA export coordinator.
Perhaps most importantly, as the current grant cycle concludes, the program has equipped a new generation of scientists to clearly communicate their work to the people it impacts most because research is only as effective as its ability to reach and be understood by those who need it.
Funding
The Science Influencers initiative was supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates program area, grant No. 2021-68018-34633/project accession No. 1026051, from USDA-NIFA.
