Recent Outreach
Connecting science, education, and conservation across communities.
The Becker Lab is committed to sharing science beyond academia by creating engaging, accessible resources that connect research on wildlife health, disease, and conservation with diverse audiences. Through collaborations with educators, artists, and academic institutions, our outreach efforts aim to inspire curiosity, improve scientific literacy, and foster the next generation of scientists.
A Model Toadlet
In collaboration with the Haddad Lab at UNESP/Brazil, and Bell Lab at the California Academy of Sciences, the Becker Lab contributed to the mini documentary A Model Toadlet, highlighting research on the pumpkin toadlet in southeastern Brazil. This work explores the spread of chytrid fungus (Bd), a pathogen responsible for global amphibian declines, and helps communicate how scientists study and predict disease outbreaks in the wild. Watch the video:
🔗 https://www.biographic.com/a-model-toadlet/
Pitanga: Trouble for a Tiny Frog
The Becker Lab coordinated the development of Pitanga: Trouble for a Tiny Frog, a bilingual children’s book focused on amphibian conservation in South America. Created as part of an NSF-funded RIBBiTR outreach program, the book was developed by two undergraduate students, an artist and a writer, mentored through the lab and collaborators Kendra Abbott and Sandra Thomas. This project highlights the power of combining science and storytelling to engage young audiences with conservation. Free download through the publisher:
Outbreak! Racing the Clock to Stop a Frog-Killing Fungus
As part of an NSF-funded initiative, co-PIs Becker and Bell partnered with the California Academy of Sciences to develop educational materials for K–12 classrooms. This program includes instructional videos and guided activities that teach students how to analyze ecological data and model disease outbreaks, introducing key concepts in ecology, epidemiology, and data-driven science. Access the material here:
Traveling Exhibits
In partnership with Abbot Nature, Penn State and the Alabama Museum of Natural History, the Becker Lab has developed portable, interactive mini exhibits designed to enhance science education in underserved communities. These traveling exhibits use laser-cut and 3D-printed modules to create hands-on multimedia learning experiences focused on topics ranging from microbiomes to vertebrate conservation. Deployed in classrooms, libraries, museums, and public spaces, these compact exhibits bring science directly to communities and make complex ideas accessible and engaging.
Together, these efforts reflect our commitment to making science accessible, engaging, and impactful across diverse communities.
The precious Pumpkin Toadlet (Brachycephalus pitanga)
Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, São Paulo, Brazil
Photo © Alberto Lopez-Torres