By Melissa T. Miller
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies recently hosted a tour specifically for SANDSWA, thanks to former board members Heather Buschman and Nicole Mlynaryk, who are part of the communications team there. Renowned for its beautiful campus and cutting-edge breakthroughs, and we got to learn more about both during a nearly three-hour visit on a recent Thursday afternoon.
First up, Heather shared some basics about the Salk Institute and the communications work involved in sharing its research, people, and publications with the world. Heather is part of a large, specialized team made up not only of writers but people who focus on marketing, social media, graphics, video, and more.
We were then escorted around the campus by knowledgeable docents, learning about the architecture and, of course, taking photos in the famous courtyard. If you’re interested, you can join one of these architectural tours for $25. Getting to do this for free, on top of all of the other parts of the visit, was a major perk of SANDSWA membership!
Next up, we split into groups and visited two labs. Danielle Engle and her group work with fluorescent proteins to better diagnose pancreatic cancer. We got to look through a microscope at mouse and human organoids that glow red or green. We also donned protective eyewear and saw mice with glowing green skin — their nose, ears, and feet fluorescing brightly under a UV flashlight’s beam. You can learn more about Danielle’s research from this feature article and her episode of the Salk podcast.
Pallav Kosuri met with us in his lab’s office, which is covered in writing — ideas, doodles, and charts on every wall. A physicist by training, he brings that mindset to tackling biological questions. He shared some early data and images of his team’s work on mapping every cell in the human heart. In 2023, he also helped YouTube star Mark Rober make the world’s tiniest Nerf gun by folding DNA like origami. The video has over 51 MILLION views!
We wrapped up our visit to Salk with finger sandwiches and other refreshments in a beautiful conference room with an ocean view. Heather and Nicole answered all our questions about how the communications team functions, discussing the joys and challenges (that many of us deal with in our work) of bringing academic science topics to the public. They also told us they are hosting a summer intern through the Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program. What an amazing opportunity to learn all about science communication and what it looks like at a nonprofit research institute!
All in all, it was a wonderful visit and we were all so thankful for the experience. We hope you’ll join us on future field trips and come say hi at the next SANDSWA event!
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