Two new reported cases of H5N1 in humans
Infectious Diseases
Elisabeth Adkins Marnik, PhD
*This information is up to date as of May 22, 2024 Press releases from the CDC and the Victoria, Australia Department of Health were sent out today regarding two new cases of human H5N1 infections. Here is what we know about each case: Michigan, USA Dairy Worker This is the second US case this year Read more…
May 23, 2024
What are heuristics and why does this matter?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Heuristics are fast, efficient mental shortcuts that we use all the time to help us make decisions and solve problems. These rule-of-thumb strategies can decrease our cognitive load to make choices without becoming overwhelmed. Heuristics can be both helpful and harmful so it’s important to recognize when a heuristic might not be such a great Read more…
May 22, 2024
Five Breakthrough Vaccines in Development
Vaccines
Megan Reilly, Intern
*World Immunization Week was 24-30 April, 2024 In recognition of World Immunization Week 2024, we’re highlighting five breakthrough vaccines in development that could transform the fight against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. The rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines has shown the incredible power of immunization, saving millions of lives. Today, vaccines prevent over 20 Read more…
May 21, 2024
Is it safe to eat beef, given the avian flu outbreaks in cows?
Infectious Diseases Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: The short answer is probably, but no one really knows. But: we do know that cooking your food properly and practicing good food safety to avoid cross-contamination is always SAFER. Reducing your risk is effective no matter what the risk was in the first place or how badly we understand it, so risk-reduction is Read more…
May 20, 2024
May is Mental Health Awareness month.
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Nearly 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health condition in any given year. And over half of all people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. This is not just about some of us. It is about all of us. Our mental health is complex and influenced by many factors. Mental Read more…
May 17, 2024
What are the 3 most important sun-safe habits for your skin?
General Health
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
The month of May is brimming with blooms, celebrations, and plans. As you gear up for summer, it’s also a good time to check in on your sun-safety routine. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light is a major risk factor for skin cancer, but it’s a preventable one with good daily habits. The 3 essential sun-safe Read more…
May 16, 2024
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 15, 2024
Infectious Diseases
Sandy Laping
Are there any updates on what’s happening with the current Bird Flu outbreak? Here is what’s new and what we know about the current H5N1 outbreak: In a nutshell: ⚫ According to the USDA there are now 46 affected cattle herds across nine states (although testing remains patchy and spread is likely wider). ⚫ There Read more…
May 15, 2024
May 12 – 18 is National Women’s Health Week!
General Health
Grayson Waits, MPH
National Women’s Health Week is an observance that aims to ➡️ Highlight women’s health issues and priorities and ➡️ Encourage women of all ages to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This year’s theme is Empowering Women, Cultivating Health: Celebrating Voices, Wellness, and Resilience. The Office on Women’s Health uses this week to celebrate Read more…
May 14, 2024
We should get ahead of vaccine hesitancy before new vaccines come out.
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Recent headlines have been filled with news about the H5N1 “avian flu” outbreak in birds and cattle. The situation is quickly evolving, requiring public health officials and communicators to stay up to date and provide rapid and regular updates. Concerns about our country’s readiness to deal with another pandemic are growing, including insufficient data collection Read more…
May 10, 2024
How do PFAS (forever chemicals) affect my health?
Biology/Immunity General Health
Chana Davis, PhD
PFAS (a type of forever chemical) are all around us – in water, food, dust, consumer products and more. Exposure to high levels of PFAS is a serious health hazard but the impact of low levels (that most people face) is unclear. PFAS pose the greatest threat to those who are highly exposed or are vulnerable Read more…
May 9, 2024
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 8, 2024
Infectious Diseases Staying Safe
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update This update is accurate as of May 8, 2024. Q: What’s the latest in the H5N1 outbreak? A: We are beginning to get more information about how this virus spreads and what the public health community could be doing to improve its response. The current outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) has Read more…
May 8, 2024
May 5-9 is National Nurses Week!
Women in STEM
Nurses have been vital to the spirit and operations of Those Nerdy Girls since the beginning. Our style of empathetic and trustworthy science communication is inspired by the therapeutic communcation approach of nursing. We are SO grateful to the nurses everywhere delivering their vital care, this week and EVERY week. Dr. Ashely Ritter (APRN, PhD) Read more…
May 3, 2024
Avian flu update – May 3, 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
The avian flu virus that has infected wild birds & mammals with recent spread to dairy cattle herds currently presents a low risk to human health but is an evolving situation that deserves monitoring. I recently heard Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator (and excellent science communicator), say something like: “Highly pathogenic avian Read more…
April 27, 2024
What resources are available to help train the next generation of Nerdy Girls (and Guys) to navigate misinformation?
Data Literacy Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Whether you are a teacher or a parent, there are lots of resources available to help kids boost their skills in navigating misinformation. Check out a few we like below! 🔵 Checkology: a free e-learning platform from The News Literacy Project that offers interactive lessons led by journalists and other experts on topics including Read more…
April 26, 2024
Avian flu update – April 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
The avian flu virus infecting dairy cattle herds, poultry, and many wild birds in the United States is an emerging situation with unanswered questions. At this point, no case of a human passing the virus along to another human has been identified. This means that it’s unlikely to become widespread among humans in its current Read more…
April 23, 2024
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, Read more…
April 19, 2024
It’s National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day! How should I celebrate?
Aging General Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
April 17, 2024
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive Health
Black Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
April 16, 2024
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
*This information is up to date as of May 22, 2024 Press releases from the CDC and the Victoria, Australia Department of Health were sent out today regarding two new cases of human H5N1 infections. Here is what we know about each case: Michigan, USA Dairy Worker This is the second US case this year Read more…
What are heuristics and why does this matter?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Heuristics are fast, efficient mental shortcuts that we use all the time to help us make decisions and solve problems. These rule-of-thumb strategies can decrease our cognitive load to make choices without becoming overwhelmed. Heuristics can be both helpful and harmful so it’s important to recognize when a heuristic might not be such a great Read more…
May 22, 2024
Five Breakthrough Vaccines in Development
Vaccines
Megan Reilly, Intern
*World Immunization Week was 24-30 April, 2024 In recognition of World Immunization Week 2024, we’re highlighting five breakthrough vaccines in development that could transform the fight against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. The rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines has shown the incredible power of immunization, saving millions of lives. Today, vaccines prevent over 20 Read more…
May 21, 2024
Is it safe to eat beef, given the avian flu outbreaks in cows?
Infectious Diseases Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: The short answer is probably, but no one really knows. But: we do know that cooking your food properly and practicing good food safety to avoid cross-contamination is always SAFER. Reducing your risk is effective no matter what the risk was in the first place or how badly we understand it, so risk-reduction is Read more…
May 20, 2024
May is Mental Health Awareness month.
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Nearly 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health condition in any given year. And over half of all people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. This is not just about some of us. It is about all of us. Our mental health is complex and influenced by many factors. Mental Read more…
May 17, 2024
What are the 3 most important sun-safe habits for your skin?
General Health
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
The month of May is brimming with blooms, celebrations, and plans. As you gear up for summer, it’s also a good time to check in on your sun-safety routine. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light is a major risk factor for skin cancer, but it’s a preventable one with good daily habits. The 3 essential sun-safe Read more…
May 16, 2024
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 15, 2024
Infectious Diseases
Sandy Laping
Are there any updates on what’s happening with the current Bird Flu outbreak? Here is what’s new and what we know about the current H5N1 outbreak: In a nutshell: ⚫ According to the USDA there are now 46 affected cattle herds across nine states (although testing remains patchy and spread is likely wider). ⚫ There Read more…
May 15, 2024
May 12 – 18 is National Women’s Health Week!
General Health
Grayson Waits, MPH
National Women’s Health Week is an observance that aims to ➡️ Highlight women’s health issues and priorities and ➡️ Encourage women of all ages to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This year’s theme is Empowering Women, Cultivating Health: Celebrating Voices, Wellness, and Resilience. The Office on Women’s Health uses this week to celebrate Read more…
May 14, 2024
We should get ahead of vaccine hesitancy before new vaccines come out.
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Recent headlines have been filled with news about the H5N1 “avian flu” outbreak in birds and cattle. The situation is quickly evolving, requiring public health officials and communicators to stay up to date and provide rapid and regular updates. Concerns about our country’s readiness to deal with another pandemic are growing, including insufficient data collection Read more…
May 10, 2024
How do PFAS (forever chemicals) affect my health?
Biology/Immunity General Health
Chana Davis, PhD
PFAS (a type of forever chemical) are all around us – in water, food, dust, consumer products and more. Exposure to high levels of PFAS is a serious health hazard but the impact of low levels (that most people face) is unclear. PFAS pose the greatest threat to those who are highly exposed or are vulnerable Read more…
May 9, 2024
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 8, 2024
Infectious Diseases Staying Safe
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update This update is accurate as of May 8, 2024. Q: What’s the latest in the H5N1 outbreak? A: We are beginning to get more information about how this virus spreads and what the public health community could be doing to improve its response. The current outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) has Read more…
May 8, 2024
May 5-9 is National Nurses Week!
Women in STEM
Nurses have been vital to the spirit and operations of Those Nerdy Girls since the beginning. Our style of empathetic and trustworthy science communication is inspired by the therapeutic communcation approach of nursing. We are SO grateful to the nurses everywhere delivering their vital care, this week and EVERY week. Dr. Ashely Ritter (APRN, PhD) Read more…
May 3, 2024
Avian flu update – May 3, 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
The avian flu virus that has infected wild birds & mammals with recent spread to dairy cattle herds currently presents a low risk to human health but is an evolving situation that deserves monitoring. I recently heard Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator (and excellent science communicator), say something like: “Highly pathogenic avian Read more…
April 27, 2024
What resources are available to help train the next generation of Nerdy Girls (and Guys) to navigate misinformation?
Data Literacy Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Whether you are a teacher or a parent, there are lots of resources available to help kids boost their skills in navigating misinformation. Check out a few we like below! 🔵 Checkology: a free e-learning platform from The News Literacy Project that offers interactive lessons led by journalists and other experts on topics including Read more…
April 26, 2024
Avian flu update – April 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
The avian flu virus infecting dairy cattle herds, poultry, and many wild birds in the United States is an emerging situation with unanswered questions. At this point, no case of a human passing the virus along to another human has been identified. This means that it’s unlikely to become widespread among humans in its current Read more…
April 23, 2024
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, Read more…
April 19, 2024
It’s National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day! How should I celebrate?
Aging General Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
April 17, 2024
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive Health
Black Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
April 16, 2024
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
Heuristics are fast, efficient mental shortcuts that we use all the time to help us make decisions and solve problems. These rule-of-thumb strategies can decrease our cognitive load to make choices without becoming overwhelmed. Heuristics can be both helpful and harmful so it’s important to recognize when a heuristic might not be such a great Read more…
Five Breakthrough Vaccines in Development
Vaccines
Megan Reilly, Intern
*World Immunization Week was 24-30 April, 2024 In recognition of World Immunization Week 2024, we’re highlighting five breakthrough vaccines in development that could transform the fight against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. The rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines has shown the incredible power of immunization, saving millions of lives. Today, vaccines prevent over 20 Read more…
May 21, 2024
Is it safe to eat beef, given the avian flu outbreaks in cows?
Infectious Diseases Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: The short answer is probably, but no one really knows. But: we do know that cooking your food properly and practicing good food safety to avoid cross-contamination is always SAFER. Reducing your risk is effective no matter what the risk was in the first place or how badly we understand it, so risk-reduction is Read more…
May 20, 2024
May is Mental Health Awareness month.
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Nearly 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health condition in any given year. And over half of all people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. This is not just about some of us. It is about all of us. Our mental health is complex and influenced by many factors. Mental Read more…
May 17, 2024
What are the 3 most important sun-safe habits for your skin?
General Health
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
The month of May is brimming with blooms, celebrations, and plans. As you gear up for summer, it’s also a good time to check in on your sun-safety routine. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light is a major risk factor for skin cancer, but it’s a preventable one with good daily habits. The 3 essential sun-safe Read more…
May 16, 2024
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 15, 2024
Infectious Diseases
Sandy Laping
Are there any updates on what’s happening with the current Bird Flu outbreak? Here is what’s new and what we know about the current H5N1 outbreak: In a nutshell: ⚫ According to the USDA there are now 46 affected cattle herds across nine states (although testing remains patchy and spread is likely wider). ⚫ There Read more…
May 15, 2024
May 12 – 18 is National Women’s Health Week!
General Health
Grayson Waits, MPH
National Women’s Health Week is an observance that aims to ➡️ Highlight women’s health issues and priorities and ➡️ Encourage women of all ages to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This year’s theme is Empowering Women, Cultivating Health: Celebrating Voices, Wellness, and Resilience. The Office on Women’s Health uses this week to celebrate Read more…
May 14, 2024
We should get ahead of vaccine hesitancy before new vaccines come out.
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Recent headlines have been filled with news about the H5N1 “avian flu” outbreak in birds and cattle. The situation is quickly evolving, requiring public health officials and communicators to stay up to date and provide rapid and regular updates. Concerns about our country’s readiness to deal with another pandemic are growing, including insufficient data collection Read more…
May 10, 2024
How do PFAS (forever chemicals) affect my health?
Biology/Immunity General Health
Chana Davis, PhD
PFAS (a type of forever chemical) are all around us – in water, food, dust, consumer products and more. Exposure to high levels of PFAS is a serious health hazard but the impact of low levels (that most people face) is unclear. PFAS pose the greatest threat to those who are highly exposed or are vulnerable Read more…
May 9, 2024
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 8, 2024
Infectious Diseases Staying Safe
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update This update is accurate as of May 8, 2024. Q: What’s the latest in the H5N1 outbreak? A: We are beginning to get more information about how this virus spreads and what the public health community could be doing to improve its response. The current outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) has Read more…
May 8, 2024
May 5-9 is National Nurses Week!
Women in STEM
Nurses have been vital to the spirit and operations of Those Nerdy Girls since the beginning. Our style of empathetic and trustworthy science communication is inspired by the therapeutic communcation approach of nursing. We are SO grateful to the nurses everywhere delivering their vital care, this week and EVERY week. Dr. Ashely Ritter (APRN, PhD) Read more…
May 3, 2024
Avian flu update – May 3, 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
The avian flu virus that has infected wild birds & mammals with recent spread to dairy cattle herds currently presents a low risk to human health but is an evolving situation that deserves monitoring. I recently heard Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator (and excellent science communicator), say something like: “Highly pathogenic avian Read more…
April 27, 2024
What resources are available to help train the next generation of Nerdy Girls (and Guys) to navigate misinformation?
Data Literacy Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Whether you are a teacher or a parent, there are lots of resources available to help kids boost their skills in navigating misinformation. Check out a few we like below! 🔵 Checkology: a free e-learning platform from The News Literacy Project that offers interactive lessons led by journalists and other experts on topics including Read more…
April 26, 2024
Avian flu update – April 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
The avian flu virus infecting dairy cattle herds, poultry, and many wild birds in the United States is an emerging situation with unanswered questions. At this point, no case of a human passing the virus along to another human has been identified. This means that it’s unlikely to become widespread among humans in its current Read more…
April 23, 2024
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, Read more…
April 19, 2024
It’s National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day! How should I celebrate?
Aging General Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
April 17, 2024
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive Health
Black Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
April 16, 2024
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
*World Immunization Week was 24-30 April, 2024 In recognition of World Immunization Week 2024, we’re highlighting five breakthrough vaccines in development that could transform the fight against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. The rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines has shown the incredible power of immunization, saving millions of lives. Today, vaccines prevent over 20 Read more…
Is it safe to eat beef, given the avian flu outbreaks in cows?
Infectious Diseases Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: The short answer is probably, but no one really knows. But: we do know that cooking your food properly and practicing good food safety to avoid cross-contamination is always SAFER. Reducing your risk is effective no matter what the risk was in the first place or how badly we understand it, so risk-reduction is Read more…
May 20, 2024
May is Mental Health Awareness month.
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Nearly 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health condition in any given year. And over half of all people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. This is not just about some of us. It is about all of us. Our mental health is complex and influenced by many factors. Mental Read more…
May 17, 2024
What are the 3 most important sun-safe habits for your skin?
General Health
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
The month of May is brimming with blooms, celebrations, and plans. As you gear up for summer, it’s also a good time to check in on your sun-safety routine. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light is a major risk factor for skin cancer, but it’s a preventable one with good daily habits. The 3 essential sun-safe Read more…
May 16, 2024
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 15, 2024
Infectious Diseases
Sandy Laping
Are there any updates on what’s happening with the current Bird Flu outbreak? Here is what’s new and what we know about the current H5N1 outbreak: In a nutshell: ⚫ According to the USDA there are now 46 affected cattle herds across nine states (although testing remains patchy and spread is likely wider). ⚫ There Read more…
May 15, 2024
May 12 – 18 is National Women’s Health Week!
General Health
Grayson Waits, MPH
National Women’s Health Week is an observance that aims to ➡️ Highlight women’s health issues and priorities and ➡️ Encourage women of all ages to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This year’s theme is Empowering Women, Cultivating Health: Celebrating Voices, Wellness, and Resilience. The Office on Women’s Health uses this week to celebrate Read more…
May 14, 2024
We should get ahead of vaccine hesitancy before new vaccines come out.
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Recent headlines have been filled with news about the H5N1 “avian flu” outbreak in birds and cattle. The situation is quickly evolving, requiring public health officials and communicators to stay up to date and provide rapid and regular updates. Concerns about our country’s readiness to deal with another pandemic are growing, including insufficient data collection Read more…
May 10, 2024
How do PFAS (forever chemicals) affect my health?
Biology/Immunity General Health
Chana Davis, PhD
PFAS (a type of forever chemical) are all around us – in water, food, dust, consumer products and more. Exposure to high levels of PFAS is a serious health hazard but the impact of low levels (that most people face) is unclear. PFAS pose the greatest threat to those who are highly exposed or are vulnerable Read more…
May 9, 2024
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 8, 2024
Infectious Diseases Staying Safe
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update This update is accurate as of May 8, 2024. Q: What’s the latest in the H5N1 outbreak? A: We are beginning to get more information about how this virus spreads and what the public health community could be doing to improve its response. The current outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) has Read more…
May 8, 2024
May 5-9 is National Nurses Week!
Women in STEM
Nurses have been vital to the spirit and operations of Those Nerdy Girls since the beginning. Our style of empathetic and trustworthy science communication is inspired by the therapeutic communcation approach of nursing. We are SO grateful to the nurses everywhere delivering their vital care, this week and EVERY week. Dr. Ashely Ritter (APRN, PhD) Read more…
May 3, 2024
Avian flu update – May 3, 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
The avian flu virus that has infected wild birds & mammals with recent spread to dairy cattle herds currently presents a low risk to human health but is an evolving situation that deserves monitoring. I recently heard Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator (and excellent science communicator), say something like: “Highly pathogenic avian Read more…
April 27, 2024
What resources are available to help train the next generation of Nerdy Girls (and Guys) to navigate misinformation?
Data Literacy Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Whether you are a teacher or a parent, there are lots of resources available to help kids boost their skills in navigating misinformation. Check out a few we like below! 🔵 Checkology: a free e-learning platform from The News Literacy Project that offers interactive lessons led by journalists and other experts on topics including Read more…
April 26, 2024
Avian flu update – April 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
The avian flu virus infecting dairy cattle herds, poultry, and many wild birds in the United States is an emerging situation with unanswered questions. At this point, no case of a human passing the virus along to another human has been identified. This means that it’s unlikely to become widespread among humans in its current Read more…
April 23, 2024
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, Read more…
April 19, 2024
It’s National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day! How should I celebrate?
Aging General Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
April 17, 2024
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive Health
Black Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
April 16, 2024
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
A: The short answer is probably, but no one really knows. But: we do know that cooking your food properly and practicing good food safety to avoid cross-contamination is always SAFER. Reducing your risk is effective no matter what the risk was in the first place or how badly we understand it, so risk-reduction is Read more…
May is Mental Health Awareness month.
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Nearly 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health condition in any given year. And over half of all people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. This is not just about some of us. It is about all of us. Our mental health is complex and influenced by many factors. Mental Read more…
May 17, 2024
What are the 3 most important sun-safe habits for your skin?
General Health
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
The month of May is brimming with blooms, celebrations, and plans. As you gear up for summer, it’s also a good time to check in on your sun-safety routine. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light is a major risk factor for skin cancer, but it’s a preventable one with good daily habits. The 3 essential sun-safe Read more…
May 16, 2024
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 15, 2024
Infectious Diseases
Sandy Laping
Are there any updates on what’s happening with the current Bird Flu outbreak? Here is what’s new and what we know about the current H5N1 outbreak: In a nutshell: ⚫ According to the USDA there are now 46 affected cattle herds across nine states (although testing remains patchy and spread is likely wider). ⚫ There Read more…
May 15, 2024
May 12 – 18 is National Women’s Health Week!
General Health
Grayson Waits, MPH
National Women’s Health Week is an observance that aims to ➡️ Highlight women’s health issues and priorities and ➡️ Encourage women of all ages to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This year’s theme is Empowering Women, Cultivating Health: Celebrating Voices, Wellness, and Resilience. The Office on Women’s Health uses this week to celebrate Read more…
May 14, 2024
We should get ahead of vaccine hesitancy before new vaccines come out.
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Recent headlines have been filled with news about the H5N1 “avian flu” outbreak in birds and cattle. The situation is quickly evolving, requiring public health officials and communicators to stay up to date and provide rapid and regular updates. Concerns about our country’s readiness to deal with another pandemic are growing, including insufficient data collection Read more…
May 10, 2024
How do PFAS (forever chemicals) affect my health?
Biology/Immunity General Health
Chana Davis, PhD
PFAS (a type of forever chemical) are all around us – in water, food, dust, consumer products and more. Exposure to high levels of PFAS is a serious health hazard but the impact of low levels (that most people face) is unclear. PFAS pose the greatest threat to those who are highly exposed or are vulnerable Read more…
May 9, 2024
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 8, 2024
Infectious Diseases Staying Safe
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update This update is accurate as of May 8, 2024. Q: What’s the latest in the H5N1 outbreak? A: We are beginning to get more information about how this virus spreads and what the public health community could be doing to improve its response. The current outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) has Read more…
May 8, 2024
May 5-9 is National Nurses Week!
Women in STEM
Nurses have been vital to the spirit and operations of Those Nerdy Girls since the beginning. Our style of empathetic and trustworthy science communication is inspired by the therapeutic communcation approach of nursing. We are SO grateful to the nurses everywhere delivering their vital care, this week and EVERY week. Dr. Ashely Ritter (APRN, PhD) Read more…
May 3, 2024
Avian flu update – May 3, 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
The avian flu virus that has infected wild birds & mammals with recent spread to dairy cattle herds currently presents a low risk to human health but is an evolving situation that deserves monitoring. I recently heard Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator (and excellent science communicator), say something like: “Highly pathogenic avian Read more…
April 27, 2024
What resources are available to help train the next generation of Nerdy Girls (and Guys) to navigate misinformation?
Data Literacy Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Whether you are a teacher or a parent, there are lots of resources available to help kids boost their skills in navigating misinformation. Check out a few we like below! 🔵 Checkology: a free e-learning platform from The News Literacy Project that offers interactive lessons led by journalists and other experts on topics including Read more…
April 26, 2024
Avian flu update – April 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
The avian flu virus infecting dairy cattle herds, poultry, and many wild birds in the United States is an emerging situation with unanswered questions. At this point, no case of a human passing the virus along to another human has been identified. This means that it’s unlikely to become widespread among humans in its current Read more…
April 23, 2024
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, Read more…
April 19, 2024
It’s National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day! How should I celebrate?
Aging General Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
April 17, 2024
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive Health
Black Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
April 16, 2024
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
Nearly 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health condition in any given year. And over half of all people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. This is not just about some of us. It is about all of us. Our mental health is complex and influenced by many factors. Mental Read more…
What are the 3 most important sun-safe habits for your skin?
General Health
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
The month of May is brimming with blooms, celebrations, and plans. As you gear up for summer, it’s also a good time to check in on your sun-safety routine. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light is a major risk factor for skin cancer, but it’s a preventable one with good daily habits. The 3 essential sun-safe Read more…
May 16, 2024
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 15, 2024
Infectious Diseases
Sandy Laping
Are there any updates on what’s happening with the current Bird Flu outbreak? Here is what’s new and what we know about the current H5N1 outbreak: In a nutshell: ⚫ According to the USDA there are now 46 affected cattle herds across nine states (although testing remains patchy and spread is likely wider). ⚫ There Read more…
May 15, 2024
May 12 – 18 is National Women’s Health Week!
General Health
Grayson Waits, MPH
National Women’s Health Week is an observance that aims to ➡️ Highlight women’s health issues and priorities and ➡️ Encourage women of all ages to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This year’s theme is Empowering Women, Cultivating Health: Celebrating Voices, Wellness, and Resilience. The Office on Women’s Health uses this week to celebrate Read more…
May 14, 2024
We should get ahead of vaccine hesitancy before new vaccines come out.
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Recent headlines have been filled with news about the H5N1 “avian flu” outbreak in birds and cattle. The situation is quickly evolving, requiring public health officials and communicators to stay up to date and provide rapid and regular updates. Concerns about our country’s readiness to deal with another pandemic are growing, including insufficient data collection Read more…
May 10, 2024
How do PFAS (forever chemicals) affect my health?
Biology/Immunity General Health
Chana Davis, PhD
PFAS (a type of forever chemical) are all around us – in water, food, dust, consumer products and more. Exposure to high levels of PFAS is a serious health hazard but the impact of low levels (that most people face) is unclear. PFAS pose the greatest threat to those who are highly exposed or are vulnerable Read more…
May 9, 2024
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 8, 2024
Infectious Diseases Staying Safe
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update This update is accurate as of May 8, 2024. Q: What’s the latest in the H5N1 outbreak? A: We are beginning to get more information about how this virus spreads and what the public health community could be doing to improve its response. The current outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) has Read more…
May 8, 2024
May 5-9 is National Nurses Week!
Women in STEM
Nurses have been vital to the spirit and operations of Those Nerdy Girls since the beginning. Our style of empathetic and trustworthy science communication is inspired by the therapeutic communcation approach of nursing. We are SO grateful to the nurses everywhere delivering their vital care, this week and EVERY week. Dr. Ashely Ritter (APRN, PhD) Read more…
May 3, 2024
Avian flu update – May 3, 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
The avian flu virus that has infected wild birds & mammals with recent spread to dairy cattle herds currently presents a low risk to human health but is an evolving situation that deserves monitoring. I recently heard Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator (and excellent science communicator), say something like: “Highly pathogenic avian Read more…
April 27, 2024
What resources are available to help train the next generation of Nerdy Girls (and Guys) to navigate misinformation?
Data Literacy Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Whether you are a teacher or a parent, there are lots of resources available to help kids boost their skills in navigating misinformation. Check out a few we like below! 🔵 Checkology: a free e-learning platform from The News Literacy Project that offers interactive lessons led by journalists and other experts on topics including Read more…
April 26, 2024
Avian flu update – April 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
The avian flu virus infecting dairy cattle herds, poultry, and many wild birds in the United States is an emerging situation with unanswered questions. At this point, no case of a human passing the virus along to another human has been identified. This means that it’s unlikely to become widespread among humans in its current Read more…
April 23, 2024
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, Read more…
April 19, 2024
It’s National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day! How should I celebrate?
Aging General Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
April 17, 2024
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive Health
Black Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
April 16, 2024
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
The month of May is brimming with blooms, celebrations, and plans. As you gear up for summer, it’s also a good time to check in on your sun-safety routine. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light is a major risk factor for skin cancer, but it’s a preventable one with good daily habits. The 3 essential sun-safe Read more…
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 15, 2024
Infectious Diseases
Sandy Laping
Are there any updates on what’s happening with the current Bird Flu outbreak? Here is what’s new and what we know about the current H5N1 outbreak: In a nutshell: ⚫ According to the USDA there are now 46 affected cattle herds across nine states (although testing remains patchy and spread is likely wider). ⚫ There Read more…
May 15, 2024
May 12 – 18 is National Women’s Health Week!
General Health
Grayson Waits, MPH
National Women’s Health Week is an observance that aims to ➡️ Highlight women’s health issues and priorities and ➡️ Encourage women of all ages to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This year’s theme is Empowering Women, Cultivating Health: Celebrating Voices, Wellness, and Resilience. The Office on Women’s Health uses this week to celebrate Read more…
May 14, 2024
We should get ahead of vaccine hesitancy before new vaccines come out.
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Recent headlines have been filled with news about the H5N1 “avian flu” outbreak in birds and cattle. The situation is quickly evolving, requiring public health officials and communicators to stay up to date and provide rapid and regular updates. Concerns about our country’s readiness to deal with another pandemic are growing, including insufficient data collection Read more…
May 10, 2024
How do PFAS (forever chemicals) affect my health?
Biology/Immunity General Health
Chana Davis, PhD
PFAS (a type of forever chemical) are all around us – in water, food, dust, consumer products and more. Exposure to high levels of PFAS is a serious health hazard but the impact of low levels (that most people face) is unclear. PFAS pose the greatest threat to those who are highly exposed or are vulnerable Read more…
May 9, 2024
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 8, 2024
Infectious Diseases Staying Safe
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update This update is accurate as of May 8, 2024. Q: What’s the latest in the H5N1 outbreak? A: We are beginning to get more information about how this virus spreads and what the public health community could be doing to improve its response. The current outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) has Read more…
May 8, 2024
May 5-9 is National Nurses Week!
Women in STEM
Nurses have been vital to the spirit and operations of Those Nerdy Girls since the beginning. Our style of empathetic and trustworthy science communication is inspired by the therapeutic communcation approach of nursing. We are SO grateful to the nurses everywhere delivering their vital care, this week and EVERY week. Dr. Ashely Ritter (APRN, PhD) Read more…
May 3, 2024
Avian flu update – May 3, 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
The avian flu virus that has infected wild birds & mammals with recent spread to dairy cattle herds currently presents a low risk to human health but is an evolving situation that deserves monitoring. I recently heard Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator (and excellent science communicator), say something like: “Highly pathogenic avian Read more…
April 27, 2024
What resources are available to help train the next generation of Nerdy Girls (and Guys) to navigate misinformation?
Data Literacy Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Whether you are a teacher or a parent, there are lots of resources available to help kids boost their skills in navigating misinformation. Check out a few we like below! 🔵 Checkology: a free e-learning platform from The News Literacy Project that offers interactive lessons led by journalists and other experts on topics including Read more…
April 26, 2024
Avian flu update – April 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
The avian flu virus infecting dairy cattle herds, poultry, and many wild birds in the United States is an emerging situation with unanswered questions. At this point, no case of a human passing the virus along to another human has been identified. This means that it’s unlikely to become widespread among humans in its current Read more…
April 23, 2024
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, Read more…
April 19, 2024
It’s National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day! How should I celebrate?
Aging General Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
April 17, 2024
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive Health
Black Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
April 16, 2024
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
Are there any updates on what’s happening with the current Bird Flu outbreak? Here is what’s new and what we know about the current H5N1 outbreak: In a nutshell: ⚫ According to the USDA there are now 46 affected cattle herds across nine states (although testing remains patchy and spread is likely wider). ⚫ There Read more…
May 12 – 18 is National Women’s Health Week!
General Health
Grayson Waits, MPH
National Women’s Health Week is an observance that aims to ➡️ Highlight women’s health issues and priorities and ➡️ Encourage women of all ages to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This year’s theme is Empowering Women, Cultivating Health: Celebrating Voices, Wellness, and Resilience. The Office on Women’s Health uses this week to celebrate Read more…
May 14, 2024
We should get ahead of vaccine hesitancy before new vaccines come out.
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Recent headlines have been filled with news about the H5N1 “avian flu” outbreak in birds and cattle. The situation is quickly evolving, requiring public health officials and communicators to stay up to date and provide rapid and regular updates. Concerns about our country’s readiness to deal with another pandemic are growing, including insufficient data collection Read more…
May 10, 2024
How do PFAS (forever chemicals) affect my health?
Biology/Immunity General Health
Chana Davis, PhD
PFAS (a type of forever chemical) are all around us – in water, food, dust, consumer products and more. Exposure to high levels of PFAS is a serious health hazard but the impact of low levels (that most people face) is unclear. PFAS pose the greatest threat to those who are highly exposed or are vulnerable Read more…
May 9, 2024
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 8, 2024
Infectious Diseases Staying Safe
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update This update is accurate as of May 8, 2024. Q: What’s the latest in the H5N1 outbreak? A: We are beginning to get more information about how this virus spreads and what the public health community could be doing to improve its response. The current outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) has Read more…
May 8, 2024
May 5-9 is National Nurses Week!
Women in STEM
Nurses have been vital to the spirit and operations of Those Nerdy Girls since the beginning. Our style of empathetic and trustworthy science communication is inspired by the therapeutic communcation approach of nursing. We are SO grateful to the nurses everywhere delivering their vital care, this week and EVERY week. Dr. Ashely Ritter (APRN, PhD) Read more…
May 3, 2024
Avian flu update – May 3, 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
The avian flu virus that has infected wild birds & mammals with recent spread to dairy cattle herds currently presents a low risk to human health but is an evolving situation that deserves monitoring. I recently heard Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator (and excellent science communicator), say something like: “Highly pathogenic avian Read more…
April 27, 2024
What resources are available to help train the next generation of Nerdy Girls (and Guys) to navigate misinformation?
Data Literacy Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Whether you are a teacher or a parent, there are lots of resources available to help kids boost their skills in navigating misinformation. Check out a few we like below! 🔵 Checkology: a free e-learning platform from The News Literacy Project that offers interactive lessons led by journalists and other experts on topics including Read more…
April 26, 2024
Avian flu update – April 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
The avian flu virus infecting dairy cattle herds, poultry, and many wild birds in the United States is an emerging situation with unanswered questions. At this point, no case of a human passing the virus along to another human has been identified. This means that it’s unlikely to become widespread among humans in its current Read more…
April 23, 2024
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, Read more…
April 19, 2024
It’s National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day! How should I celebrate?
Aging General Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
April 17, 2024
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive Health
Black Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
April 16, 2024
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
National Women’s Health Week is an observance that aims to ➡️ Highlight women’s health issues and priorities and ➡️ Encourage women of all ages to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This year’s theme is Empowering Women, Cultivating Health: Celebrating Voices, Wellness, and Resilience. The Office on Women’s Health uses this week to celebrate Read more…
We should get ahead of vaccine hesitancy before new vaccines come out.
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Recent headlines have been filled with news about the H5N1 “avian flu” outbreak in birds and cattle. The situation is quickly evolving, requiring public health officials and communicators to stay up to date and provide rapid and regular updates. Concerns about our country’s readiness to deal with another pandemic are growing, including insufficient data collection Read more…
May 10, 2024
How do PFAS (forever chemicals) affect my health?
Biology/Immunity General Health
Chana Davis, PhD
PFAS (a type of forever chemical) are all around us – in water, food, dust, consumer products and more. Exposure to high levels of PFAS is a serious health hazard but the impact of low levels (that most people face) is unclear. PFAS pose the greatest threat to those who are highly exposed or are vulnerable Read more…
May 9, 2024
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 8, 2024
Infectious Diseases Staying Safe
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update This update is accurate as of May 8, 2024. Q: What’s the latest in the H5N1 outbreak? A: We are beginning to get more information about how this virus spreads and what the public health community could be doing to improve its response. The current outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) has Read more…
May 8, 2024
May 5-9 is National Nurses Week!
Women in STEM
Nurses have been vital to the spirit and operations of Those Nerdy Girls since the beginning. Our style of empathetic and trustworthy science communication is inspired by the therapeutic communcation approach of nursing. We are SO grateful to the nurses everywhere delivering their vital care, this week and EVERY week. Dr. Ashely Ritter (APRN, PhD) Read more…
May 3, 2024
Avian flu update – May 3, 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
The avian flu virus that has infected wild birds & mammals with recent spread to dairy cattle herds currently presents a low risk to human health but is an evolving situation that deserves monitoring. I recently heard Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator (and excellent science communicator), say something like: “Highly pathogenic avian Read more…
April 27, 2024
What resources are available to help train the next generation of Nerdy Girls (and Guys) to navigate misinformation?
Data Literacy Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Whether you are a teacher or a parent, there are lots of resources available to help kids boost their skills in navigating misinformation. Check out a few we like below! 🔵 Checkology: a free e-learning platform from The News Literacy Project that offers interactive lessons led by journalists and other experts on topics including Read more…
April 26, 2024
Avian flu update – April 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
The avian flu virus infecting dairy cattle herds, poultry, and many wild birds in the United States is an emerging situation with unanswered questions. At this point, no case of a human passing the virus along to another human has been identified. This means that it’s unlikely to become widespread among humans in its current Read more…
April 23, 2024
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, Read more…
April 19, 2024
It’s National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day! How should I celebrate?
Aging General Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
April 17, 2024
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive Health
Black Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
April 16, 2024
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
Recent headlines have been filled with news about the H5N1 “avian flu” outbreak in birds and cattle. The situation is quickly evolving, requiring public health officials and communicators to stay up to date and provide rapid and regular updates. Concerns about our country’s readiness to deal with another pandemic are growing, including insufficient data collection Read more…
How do PFAS (forever chemicals) affect my health?
Biology/Immunity General Health
Chana Davis, PhD
PFAS (a type of forever chemical) are all around us – in water, food, dust, consumer products and more. Exposure to high levels of PFAS is a serious health hazard but the impact of low levels (that most people face) is unclear. PFAS pose the greatest threat to those who are highly exposed or are vulnerable Read more…
May 9, 2024
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 8, 2024
Infectious Diseases Staying Safe
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update This update is accurate as of May 8, 2024. Q: What’s the latest in the H5N1 outbreak? A: We are beginning to get more information about how this virus spreads and what the public health community could be doing to improve its response. The current outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) has Read more…
May 8, 2024
May 5-9 is National Nurses Week!
Women in STEM
Nurses have been vital to the spirit and operations of Those Nerdy Girls since the beginning. Our style of empathetic and trustworthy science communication is inspired by the therapeutic communcation approach of nursing. We are SO grateful to the nurses everywhere delivering their vital care, this week and EVERY week. Dr. Ashely Ritter (APRN, PhD) Read more…
May 3, 2024
Avian flu update – May 3, 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
The avian flu virus that has infected wild birds & mammals with recent spread to dairy cattle herds currently presents a low risk to human health but is an evolving situation that deserves monitoring. I recently heard Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator (and excellent science communicator), say something like: “Highly pathogenic avian Read more…
April 27, 2024
What resources are available to help train the next generation of Nerdy Girls (and Guys) to navigate misinformation?
Data Literacy Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Whether you are a teacher or a parent, there are lots of resources available to help kids boost their skills in navigating misinformation. Check out a few we like below! 🔵 Checkology: a free e-learning platform from The News Literacy Project that offers interactive lessons led by journalists and other experts on topics including Read more…
April 26, 2024
Avian flu update – April 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
The avian flu virus infecting dairy cattle herds, poultry, and many wild birds in the United States is an emerging situation with unanswered questions. At this point, no case of a human passing the virus along to another human has been identified. This means that it’s unlikely to become widespread among humans in its current Read more…
April 23, 2024
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, Read more…
April 19, 2024
It’s National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day! How should I celebrate?
Aging General Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
April 17, 2024
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive Health
Black Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
April 16, 2024
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
PFAS (a type of forever chemical) are all around us – in water, food, dust, consumer products and more. Exposure to high levels of PFAS is a serious health hazard but the impact of low levels (that most people face) is unclear. PFAS pose the greatest threat to those who are highly exposed or are vulnerable Read more…
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update – May 8, 2024
Infectious Diseases Staying Safe
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update This update is accurate as of May 8, 2024. Q: What’s the latest in the H5N1 outbreak? A: We are beginning to get more information about how this virus spreads and what the public health community could be doing to improve its response. The current outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) has Read more…
May 8, 2024
May 5-9 is National Nurses Week!
Women in STEM
Nurses have been vital to the spirit and operations of Those Nerdy Girls since the beginning. Our style of empathetic and trustworthy science communication is inspired by the therapeutic communcation approach of nursing. We are SO grateful to the nurses everywhere delivering their vital care, this week and EVERY week. Dr. Ashely Ritter (APRN, PhD) Read more…
May 3, 2024
Avian flu update – May 3, 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
The avian flu virus that has infected wild birds & mammals with recent spread to dairy cattle herds currently presents a low risk to human health but is an evolving situation that deserves monitoring. I recently heard Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator (and excellent science communicator), say something like: “Highly pathogenic avian Read more…
April 27, 2024
What resources are available to help train the next generation of Nerdy Girls (and Guys) to navigate misinformation?
Data Literacy Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Whether you are a teacher or a parent, there are lots of resources available to help kids boost their skills in navigating misinformation. Check out a few we like below! 🔵 Checkology: a free e-learning platform from The News Literacy Project that offers interactive lessons led by journalists and other experts on topics including Read more…
April 26, 2024
Avian flu update – April 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
The avian flu virus infecting dairy cattle herds, poultry, and many wild birds in the United States is an emerging situation with unanswered questions. At this point, no case of a human passing the virus along to another human has been identified. This means that it’s unlikely to become widespread among humans in its current Read more…
April 23, 2024
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, Read more…
April 19, 2024
It’s National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day! How should I celebrate?
Aging General Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
April 17, 2024
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive Health
Black Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
April 16, 2024
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
Avian Influenza (H5N1) Update This update is accurate as of May 8, 2024. Q: What’s the latest in the H5N1 outbreak? A: We are beginning to get more information about how this virus spreads and what the public health community could be doing to improve its response. The current outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) has Read more…
May 5-9 is National Nurses Week!
Women in STEMNurses have been vital to the spirit and operations of Those Nerdy Girls since the beginning. Our style of empathetic and trustworthy science communication is inspired by the therapeutic communcation approach of nursing. We are SO grateful to the nurses everywhere delivering their vital care, this week and EVERY week. Dr. Ashely Ritter (APRN, PhD) Read more…
Avian flu update – May 3, 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
The avian flu virus that has infected wild birds & mammals with recent spread to dairy cattle herds currently presents a low risk to human health but is an evolving situation that deserves monitoring. I recently heard Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator (and excellent science communicator), say something like: “Highly pathogenic avian Read more…
April 27, 2024
What resources are available to help train the next generation of Nerdy Girls (and Guys) to navigate misinformation?
Data Literacy Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Whether you are a teacher or a parent, there are lots of resources available to help kids boost their skills in navigating misinformation. Check out a few we like below! 🔵 Checkology: a free e-learning platform from The News Literacy Project that offers interactive lessons led by journalists and other experts on topics including Read more…
April 26, 2024
Avian flu update – April 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
The avian flu virus infecting dairy cattle herds, poultry, and many wild birds in the United States is an emerging situation with unanswered questions. At this point, no case of a human passing the virus along to another human has been identified. This means that it’s unlikely to become widespread among humans in its current Read more…
April 23, 2024
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, Read more…
April 19, 2024
It’s National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day! How should I celebrate?
Aging General Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
April 17, 2024
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive Health
Black Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
April 16, 2024
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
The avian flu virus that has infected wild birds & mammals with recent spread to dairy cattle herds currently presents a low risk to human health but is an evolving situation that deserves monitoring. I recently heard Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator (and excellent science communicator), say something like: “Highly pathogenic avian Read more…
What resources are available to help train the next generation of Nerdy Girls (and Guys) to navigate misinformation?
Data Literacy Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Whether you are a teacher or a parent, there are lots of resources available to help kids boost their skills in navigating misinformation. Check out a few we like below! 🔵 Checkology: a free e-learning platform from The News Literacy Project that offers interactive lessons led by journalists and other experts on topics including Read more…
April 26, 2024
Avian flu update – April 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
The avian flu virus infecting dairy cattle herds, poultry, and many wild birds in the United States is an emerging situation with unanswered questions. At this point, no case of a human passing the virus along to another human has been identified. This means that it’s unlikely to become widespread among humans in its current Read more…
April 23, 2024
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, Read more…
April 19, 2024
It’s National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day! How should I celebrate?
Aging General Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
April 17, 2024
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive Health
Black Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
April 16, 2024
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
A: Whether you are a teacher or a parent, there are lots of resources available to help kids boost their skills in navigating misinformation. Check out a few we like below! 🔵 Checkology: a free e-learning platform from The News Literacy Project that offers interactive lessons led by journalists and other experts on topics including Read more…
Avian flu update – April 2024
Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
The avian flu virus infecting dairy cattle herds, poultry, and many wild birds in the United States is an emerging situation with unanswered questions. At this point, no case of a human passing the virus along to another human has been identified. This means that it’s unlikely to become widespread among humans in its current Read more…
April 23, 2024
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, Read more…
April 19, 2024
It’s National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day! How should I celebrate?
Aging General Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
April 17, 2024
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive Health
Black Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
April 16, 2024
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
The avian flu virus infecting dairy cattle herds, poultry, and many wild birds in the United States is an emerging situation with unanswered questions. At this point, no case of a human passing the virus along to another human has been identified. This means that it’s unlikely to become widespread among humans in its current Read more…
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, Read more…
April 19, 2024
It’s National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day! How should I celebrate?
Aging General Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
April 17, 2024
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive Health
Black Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
April 16, 2024
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, Read more…
It’s National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day! How should I celebrate?
Aging General Health Staying Safe
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
April 17, 2024
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive Health
Black Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
April 16, 2024
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
Over-the-counter and prescription medications have a way of accumulating in cabinets, drawers, bags, and forgotten pockets. Unused and expired medications should be discarded safely to avoid misuse. Take a few minutes with Those Nerdy Girls to safely dispose of your old medications today. Think about all the places you store medication and then clean them Read more…
What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health?
Reproductive HealthBlack Maternal Health Awareness Week is wrapping up. What do we need to know about Black Maternal Health? During pregnancy, childbirth, or the first 42 days after delivery of a living child, Black people are dying at almost three times the rate (CDC, 2021) as white people. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable Read more…
How stable are conspiracy theory beliefs?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
April 12, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
Although it’s not very common, conspiracy beliefs can change over time. This gives us new hope about the promise of interventions to change these ideas. When we think about a person who believes one or multiple conspiracy theories, we tend to think of someone whose beliefs are relatively stable and fixed. In the public imagination, Read more…
Nerdy Girls Live 04/12/24: Fact-checking science-based claims.
Data Literacy Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…
Those Nerdy Girls and FactCheck.org talk about fact-checking science-based claims. Hosted by: – Lori Robertson: Managing Editor at FactCheck.org (@factcheck.org) – Chana Davis, PhD: Contributing Writer at Those Nerdy Girls (@thosenerdygirls) ➡️ 0:00 – 0:33 General welcome and intros ➡️ 0:34 – 2:21 Introduction to FactCheck.org ➡️ 2:22 – 3:46 Introduction to Those Nerdy Girls Read more…