Uncharted
Sophie is contributing author of Uncharted: How Scientists Navigate Their Own Health, Research, and Experiences of Bias. She wrote a chapter about her experience living with non-diabetic hypoglycemia (NDH), a rare medical condition of low blood glucose in people without diabetes.
Reports, Blogs & Articles
Read more about my work, from interviewing an international model about beauty activism to writing editorials and op-eds about dementia-friendly communities, assisted suicide, poverty, nursing homes, and mental illness.
In my interview with Seeking Science, I talk about healthcare for all older persons, inclusion in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), and how to get into science communication. The interview was published in Medium and calls for ending ageism in healthcare settings. “Older people are often cast aside and deemed unproductive, which is a big challenge in healthcare. Even with the growing number of older adults, there is little interest in or respect for geriatrics in the U.S.A. Older adults are a valuable resource and should be considered in every strategic decision making in society.”
Invited Talks & Panels
Read more about my work, from speaking about loneliness and aging at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to facilitating a breakout session about scientists as writers and storytellers at Reclaiming STEM Workshop.
I was invited to speak about mental health in academia at the inaugural Mental Health – INternationally Delivering Support (MINDS) Conference! The event was hosted by graduate students of the University of Toronto in collaboration with Dragonfly Mental Health, whose mission is to improve and strengthen mental health care and culture in academia worldwide!
In this episode of Science Sucks, I chat with host Ive Velikova about how I became a science writer. We also give a detailed guide on starting a career as a science writer, from finding a niche and writing regularly to finding a mentor. After finishing graduate school, I dreamed about becoming a science and health writer, so working as one today is a dream come true! Recently, I have been writing about the brain, loneliness, and mental health during the life course. I am very interested in how trauma is passed through multiple generations because it impacts healthy aging. You can listen to the episode here.
Interviews & Profiles
Read more about my work, from getting featured on a STEM Trading Card by Science Delivered! to being profiled for a cover story, “Female Science Communicators Spread The Word,” by Diversity in Action Magazine.
In this interview, I talk about my love of science and health, books, and the top three tips for girls starting in STEM. The interview is part of their Women in STEM stories and is available here. I gave an update about my work two years later. “As a young girl, I was an avid reader. I had a budding interest in science and became inspired by my mother’s love of science and healthcare. She started and operated a community pharmacy for several years, where I became exposed to different views of health, including patient engagement, health promotion, and preventive medicine.”
Research & Analysis
Read more about my work, from contributing to an issue brief about aging with disability for Grantmakers in Aging (GIA) to publishing research about millennial dementia caregivers for the Center for Healthcare Innovation.
Sophie Okolo, MPH 