ASC Town Hall: Navigating Industry Changes

Join ASC for our first community town hall!

Join the Association of Science Communicators (ASC) for an online town hall exploring the rapidly changing landscape of science communication. This session will begin with an open discussion (40 minutes) on the key challenges facing the field today, including the shift from salaried team-based roles to independent freelance work, growing government hostility and funding cuts toward science, and the urgent need to rebuild public trust in science communication.

Following the discussion, we will move into a 15-minute Community Call: Offers & Asks, where participants can share resources, seek support, and connect with peers.

Moderated by ASC Online Events Manager Therese Ton and science communicator Will Freund, the conversation will tackle questions such as:

• How can organizations adapt to the rise of independent science communicators?
• How can financial support be balanced with maintaining objectivity and trust?
• What strategies best protect science communication from political and cultural pressures?
• How do we rebuild credibility in an era of misinformation and skepticism?
• What role should institutions play in supporting freelancers and hybrid communicators?

This event is designed to be interactive, collaborative, and forward-looking. Come ready to share your experiences, insights, and ideas as we work together to strengthen and future-proof the science communication community.

Therese Ton

Will Freund

Therese's background blends science, creativity, and storytelling. She started her career as a Research Associate at the Broad Institute, where she conducted molecular and cellular biology research to investigate potential therapeutic targets in cardiovascular disease, before moving into R&D project and program management at Astria Therapeutics, supporting IND submissions, coordinating cross-functional teams, and applying her expertise in scientific illustration and mechanism of action content for corporate and clinical communications. Therese then opened t.ton studios, where she worked as a freelance scientific communications consultant, developing graphics, animations, and branding for biotech and research organizations. In her current role at Generate:Biomedicines, Therese focuses on scientific storytelling across internal and external channels, helping to create compelling content that brings our work to life.  Outside of work, you can find Therese in the kitchen running her baking business called Toscah Bakery or in the studio dancing. Therese currently serves as the Online Events Manager at the Association of Science Communicators (ASC) and is thrilled to engage, nurture, and grow the SciComms community.

Will Freund is first and foremost a storyteller with a passion for education, the environment, and making something from nothing. As a STEM connector, environmental educator, and filmmaker with almost a decade of experience, Will has a driving passion to lower the threshold to entry for all creative and educational endeavors while addressing the climate crisis. Will currently works as an educator at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Draper, Utah. Before his current role, Will has held various educational, community engagement, and research positions at the Environmental Educators of North Carolina, the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the Redford Center, the Sea Education Association, and other organizations. Will serves as an Events and Course Volunteer at the Association of Science Communicators (ASC) and is excited to find ways to bring people together to learn in nontraditional ways.