While it's easy for us to complain nonstop....we can better channel that energy to create solutions to improve our training in general science communication. One way of doing so would be to hold refresher courses for trainees and PIs as we normally do for ethics. Would love to hear other ideas!

If you present your work to a scientific audience outside your niche without putting in the due diligence for others to understand the rationale, methods and conclusion....then there's no way on earth someone outside of science will be able to understand it.

At times I feel we place too much emphasis on evaluating each other based on how 'cutting edge' our work is or how many papers we publish, while losing sight of what really matters-how well we communicate our research and how well others can understand it.

I credit my scientific success to her love, support, and guidance in finding additional mentors who hold me accountable. While political times such as these can be challenging, we can continue to lean on our personal and professional role models to inspire the future generations of scientists. 4/n

Her influence extended to all of her 8 grandchildren, many of whom have careers in science and education. She would have turned 100 on Valentine's Day. 3/n

As a UIUC microbiology graduate in the late 1940s, she met my grandfather, Gerald, a WWII D Day veteran and chemical engineer. They married, moved to Chicago, and pursued science careers. Gita worked as a bacteriologist and then became a biology teacher for middle school students. 2/n