ECOS is an international community of artists and storytellers on a mission to make science spaces more inclusive through collaboration.
OUR MISSION
We use the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, like actually working together, to make both science and art spaces more inclusive of people from all walks of life.
We aim to increase scientific engagement through creative projects that inspire action for the planet.
Our Leadership Team
Our core team combines expertise across creative direction, strategic partnerships, business development and community facilitation to keep up the day-to-day and dream up our next big projects.
Founder & Creative Director
Melissa Pappas
Melissa is a marine scientist, storyteller and artist with over a decade of experience leading SciArt projects using her background in academia to help translate research into engaging stories.
Brand & Creative Strategy Director
Sarah Pravato
Sarah's expertise lies in campaign development, brand identity and storytelling for impact. She works with mission-driven organizations to foster community and make meaningful change.
Community Architect Director
Holly Buresh-Dodd
Holly is a marine scientist and experiential educator with years of experience working on Tall ships and building communities for better science communication and environmental education.
Interns & Alumni
Lindsay Newey
Graphic Designer | ECOS Founding Member | ECOS Intern Alumni
Cassidy Smith
Scientific Illustrator | ECOS Intern Alumni
Natalie Chan
Science Illustrator & Animator | Intern Alumni
Lizzy McGary
Scientific Illustrator | ECOS Intern Alumni
Michelle Parsons
Scientific Illustrator | ECOS Intern
Josefina Bovee
Scientific Illustrator & Comic Artist | ECOS Intern
OUR STORY
Emerging Creatives of Science was founded in 2018 by Melissa Pappas, a marine scientist turned creative communicator on a mission to deliver fun and impactful science stories. With a knack for building networks of ambitious people, Melissa gathered artists, scientists and storytellers to form the collaborative community.
Early ECOS projects were hosted at the University of New South Wales and included coral reef SciArt murals and a women in science photography exhibit.
In 2020, ECOS pivoted to meet a different kind of need, a sense of belonging and direction for those at the intersection of art and science. The ECOS blog took off as a story-sharing tool for creative science communicators finding their own path and connecting with like-minded people.
A few years later, both the need for holistic communication initiatives and the talent in the ECOS community grew to a point where we needed to shift again.
In 2023, ECOS was established as a collaborative, international "agency" to improve scientific literacy, democratize knowledge and inspire action.
ECOS offers always-unique, never-boring communication services to science professionals across the globe.
Get in touch to learn more.
Why use
in science communication?
1
Art can communicate across languages and technical jargon, allowing your work to reach a wider audience.
art
2
Art creates emotional connections to concepts, phenomena, and crises, encouraging people to authentically act on those issues.
3
When used to illustrate science research, art in any form can transform perspectives.
