Jessica Malaty Rivera is an infectious disease epidemiologist and science communicator who has made significant waves in public health communication, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a captivating discussion, she delves into her transition from a potential medical career to focusing on science communication. Rivera shares her experiences with the COVID Tracking Project and the importance of clear messaging in public health. She emphasizes the need for transparency, addresses challenges women face in freelance compensation, and reflects on her heritage and personal growth.
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Early Global Health Training
Jessica's first job post-college was an unpaid internship at International Justice Mission in DC.
She traveled globally teaching public health and first aid to NGO offices, which was a formative experience.
insights INSIGHT
Embracing Uncertainty in Science
Science communication must embrace uncertainty and evolve with new information.
Transparency and humility are crucial to avoid misinformation and public distrust.
insights INSIGHT
One Health and Ecosystem Balance
Disease emergence links closely to ecosystem imbalances caused by deforestation and overconsumption.
Climate change exacerbates risks by disrupting human, animal, and environmental harmony.
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In 'Project Hail Mary', Ryland Grace, a high school science teacher, awakens on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there or his mission. He soon discovers that he is the sole survivor of a desperate mission to save Earth from a microorganism called the Astrophage, which is threatening to cause a new ice age. As Ryland regains his memories, he encounters an alien named Rocky, and together they work to solve the scientific mystery and save their respective home planets. The story blends science, humor, and heart, exploring themes of survival, discovery, and unlikely friendships[1][3][5].
Jessica Malaty Rivera is an infectious disease epidemiologist and science communicator renowned for making complex public health information accessible, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. While initially premed at USC, she pivoted to studying health promotion and disease prevention, and worked in the nonprofit sector after college. She was later recruited to research emerging biological threats at Georgetown University and simultaneously decided to pursue a master’s degree there in biohazardous threat agents and emerging infectious diseases. While she’s always loved science, she began to realize that where she truly excelled was in “speaking science.” And the deeper Rivera got into infectious disease epidemiology—whether through work or academia—the more she realized how critical the communications aspect of science was to public health. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she joined The Atlantic to lend her expertise to the COVID Tracking Project to provide publicly available, comprehensive data on COVID-19 cases in real time. She then began using Instagram to explain and interpret global health news, unexpectedly gaining a large following for her easy-to-understand information. Over the past five years, she has grown her platform, launched a Substack, and is currently completing a Doctorate in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, all while remaining dedicated to science facts and public health literacy.
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