Tania B. Email & Phone Number

I drive the development of three-dimensional, sense making learning materials that teachers can use to bring engaging, trusted PBS media into their secondary school classrooms. It is my absolute pleasure to be part of our joyful Climate Initiative which is bringing optimistic, solutions-based climate programs to PBS's television and digital platforms. The learning resources I get to publish are designed to inspire teens with those real stories of Earth's helpers, while also giving students the tools and showing them the myriad pathways they can take to achieve a positive future for themselves, their community, and the planet. With my stellar writing team of classroom educators, we're creating a catalogue of core curriculum resources that are kicking climate anxiety to the curb.That means I manage teams of contracted educators, author and edit lesson plans, build web resources in our bespoke CMS, develop project plans and strategies, manage those projects from conception to archiving, collaborate with colleagues across PBS departments and member stations, audit existing resources and determine content development needs, review grant proposals, and represent PBS LearningMedia with stakeholders and at conferences.

I developed, authored, and edited standards-based science content, both non-fiction and fiction, for students and teachers on an award-winning, K-12 digital learning platform. Edited and Lexile leveled curated science news articles to ensure clarity, quality, accuracy, relatability, and high reader appeal for grades 6-12. Selected, edited, and vetted science images and infographics in collaboration with multimedia designers. Managed creative projects, coached contractors, delivered to strict publications timetables, and set best practice guidelines for other content creators. Formerly at Achieve 3000.

I wrote astronomy-related non-fiction feature articles and essays for popular magazines and books. I reviewed and edited book chapters for academic publication.I presented scripted and unscripted content live on stage, television and radio. Served as science fact and fiction expert panelist and planetarium presenter at HawaiiCon.

As the head of the Education and Public Outreach Division, I determined the strategy, programs, and creative direction for the Observatory's STEM education and public outreach programs with an impressive think tank of experienced and talented communicators and media developers. I managed million-dollar budgets, established and maintained internal and external partnerships both domestic and international, oversaw educational and retail business endeavors, sought grants, and negotiated resources across three time zones and two countries. I served in an interim role on top of my other duties as the science writer and producer.

I led the NRAO's Education and Public Outreach Digital Learning Team to produce a myriad of different space science public outreach packages, including videos, exhibits, online interactives, books, web features that I authored, plus news announcements authored by our public information officers. I was the social media voice for the NRAO across multiple platforms and accounts, and increased online community engagement forty-fold in my first three years. I podcasted and blogged, interviewed talent for video and audio projects, and shot and edited video. I appeared as an expert/presenter on an episode of the History Channel series, The Universe.I was the North American Public Information Officer for the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and authored the first major international press releases from its impressive early science phase as well as its online virtual tour.

Leicester, United Kingdom

I served as lead author and development head of a new space science news website for the UK's largest centre dedicated to space science. I wrote over one hundred articles on current space science and technology, focusing mainly on European endeavors, and produced their accompanying graphics.I was in charge of preparing science and education press releases, magazine advertisements, and web news and feature articles. I wrote grant proposals as needed. I helped start grassroots campaigns to improve public affairs strategies for UK space industry.I was on a small team that prepared a new multimedia-rich exhibit called Space Now. For this, I was a researcher, author, screenwriter and video editor. I also performed in a Chroma Key studio to become the virtual host of the holographic feature film, as I was a designated media personality for the Centre and frequently asked to appear on radio and TV. Built relationships with local, regional, and national news networks, both radio and TV. Appeared on two children's TV shows, Prank Patrol: Space Station and Jim'll Fix It: Now and Then.

Hired, trained, scheduled, and managed a volunteer corps of over 440 people serving in visitor services, maintenance, wildlife care, transportation, and administration. Coordinated the special events at the State Park, serving over 15,000 guests every year. Designed educational programs for children based on the principles of inquiry- and problem-based learning. Liaised with State and Federal agencies that handle natural resources programs at our Park. Prepared grant proposals and negotiated with corporations for fundraising. Authored and published the Park's bimonthly newsletter. Delivered live science interpretation and wildlife care, and was trained to handle small birds of prey.

Managed the development of a center of interdisciplinary research and education for this leading research institution. Led a team of 40 research scientists who served as course designers, lecturers, assessors, and laboratory leaders. Initiated and developed the recruitment strategies to bring students to the undergraduate and graduate courses. Served as student adviser, teacher, and assessor. Designed several of the undergraduate course modules, and edited the rest. Prepared and produced the external website and the Blackboard e-learning portal. As part of my outreach and public affairs strategy, I served as a live and broadcast presenter with appearances on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Leicester.

I served as NASA’s Liaison for the Public and Media in New England: when a NASA-related story hit the news, I was NASA's designated regional contact. For NASA but through the Museum, I was a journalist with a deadline to produce daily news stories online and on the Museum's touchscreens. I prepared and delivered daily live presentations on space-related science stories, worked with video editors to produce science videos, designed exhibits on current space events, and was frequently on television answering questions about space news. For the Museum, I served as the chief editor of the team of current science writers, liaison to the software and hardware developers, and strategic developer on our guide to style and voice. At this time, no one in the United States was doing what we were doing -- daily and live multimedia current science and technology interpretation -- and so our team truly paved the way for science museums.

I coordinated and scheduled teams and resources tasked to create interactive children's edutainment software based on famous children's media products. I managed artists as they prepared multimedia based on Reading Rainbow, Jim Henson's Bear in the Big Blue House, and Ranger Rick Magazine. I managed client relations and presented progress reports and materials for their approval. I was the off-site Beta Tester, traveling to local afterschool facilities to test our product with our demographic age groups. I served as the science consultant for other producers, and authored science materials for children.

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Reduced data from X-ray and UV space telescopes using industry standard and bespoke software to prepare datasets for analysis. Analyzed these data to report on the nature of active galaxies, and prepared these results for peer-reviewed journal publication. Wrote a K-6, inquiry-based science curriculum for NASA and distributed it online and via print and CD-ROM at major science conferences around the United States. Managed the SAO's Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. Participated in national science education programs, including Project ASTRO, and helped with numerous smaller NASA education grants. Won awards from the Smithsonian Institution, NASA, and Suite 101 for my STEM EPO product development.