Dr. Carolyn J. Kroehler (Carrie) is the associate director of Virginia Tech’s Center for Communicating Science, part of the Empower thrust of the COMPASS Center. A biologist, writer, editor, and Virginia Tech faculty member, Carrie has spent many years “translating” research for non-scientists. Through her work at the Center for Communicating Science, she helps others learn to make their research accessible and engaging. She teaches a graduate-level communicating science course, facilitates a wide variety of workshops, and helps organize and host outreach programs. These include Science on Tap – New River Valley; the Nutshell Games, a graduate student presentation competition; and Girls Launch!, a kindergarten science visits project. Carrie believes in the power of play and of experiential learning—and that research isn’t finished if it hasn’t been communicated effectively. She collaborates with other researchers to study the impact and outcomes of Center for Communicating Science courses and outreach programs. Carrie is motivated by a vision of a future in which listening to and learning from one another are key elements of solving the big problems that confront us.