Public Outreach & Media

During my three-year term as the Carswell Chair for the Public Understanding of Astronomy, I became a leading voice for Canadian astronomy, delivering over 115 interviews on everything from cosmology to the ISS stranded astronauts for global outlets like the BBC, NPR, CTV, and Global News.

I am a featured presenter on Discovery Channel’s Killers of the Cosmos and my TED talk, "Searching for Microscopic Aliens," has reached over 1.8 million viewers. I continue to bring the universe to the public through my courses for The Great Courses and Audible Originals, with my latest project on the James Webb Space Telescope arriving in March 2026.

Featured Public Astronomy Courses

Searching for Extraterrestrial Life

Written for Audible Original & The Great Courses

A 10-part series exploring the scientific search for life beyond Earth, from extremophiles on Earth to the icy moons of our solar system.

Listen on Audible:

JWST Course

New:
Experiencing James Webb

The Great Courses • Coming March 2026

An exclusive deep-dive into the first two years of discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope. Stay tuned for the official release!

  • Release Pending

Filming Discovery Channel Show "Killers of the Cosmos"

Filming Killers of the Cosmos 1
Filming Killers of the Cosmos 2
Filming Killers of the Cosmos 3
Filming Killers of the Cosmos 4
Filming Killers of the Cosmos 5
Filming Killers of the Cosmos 6

Sample Television Interviews

I discuss on CTV the recent announcement by Dr. Nikku Madhusudhan of Cambridge of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) on the planet K2-18b. Is it a sign of life?

I talk with Mel on Breakfast Television to discuss NASA’s DART mission—a test of a planetary defence strategy and the spacecraft’s successful collision with an asteroid.

Sample Radio Interviews

DART Mission: 10 min spot with David Cooper

Halloween Fireballs: Global News Radio segment

Writing & Features

New Scientist Article

The Search for Life on Exoplanets

New Scientist • 2019

An exploration of how we use spectroscopy to detect biosignatures in the atmospheres of distant worlds, and what the JWST is revealing about our place in the universe.

More articles coming soon...

Additional Outreach & Advocacy

Media Archives

  • Self-Care with Drs. Sarah: Co-hosted a podcast with Dr. Sarah Ballard discussing professional sustainability and wellness in academia.
    Listen on SoundCloud
  • Ask an Astrobiologist (2019): Featured guest on SAGANnet discussing biosignatures and career paths.
    Watch Segment

Writing & Policy

  • GeoBus Scotland: Developed biosignature explainer and "Life on Mars" curriculum for high school outreach in Scotland.
  • PolicyLab: Co-founder and Senior Editor of Harvard’s science policy outlet.
  • Harvard's Science in the News: Author of 3 feature articles on exoplanets and human spaceflight.

Other previous engagements include "Standing up for Science" (MIT) and the "Ask for Evidence" campaign (Sense about Science).