Making Chemistry Accessible and Impactful with Ayanna Lynch

💡 How can we design chemistry outreach that sparks long-term curiosity, not just a one-off slime demo?

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's it about?

• Ayanna’s journey from chemistry/art-history double major to Getty Museum conservation intern to ACS outreach coordinator

• Building “choose-your-own-adventure” activities that tap multiple senses and learning styles

• Crafting surveys and school partnerships to measure informal-learning impact

• Leveraging local industry (agriculture, mining, etc.) for authentic, place-based chemistry events

• Using 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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayanna-l-5ab393101/

Host:

I’m ⁠Vanessa Rosa, Ph.D⁠., founder of ⁠Science with Impact⁠, where we partner with scientists to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact through evidence-based, question-led, and person-centered science communication.

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