I speak about science and its wonders, from what we see in the sky at night to how we can use science to lead healthy lives, for live and virtual audiences everywhere.
2026 PROGRAMS
HEALTH CENTERED LEADERSHIP
LESSONS FROM SCIENCE AND COACHING ABOUT TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS
Ideal for: Keynote presentations or conference breakout sessions for company retreats, leadership conferences, and team-building activities
Program description: Our health matters—but it’s often our last priority. Work stress, family responsibilities, and the worries that crop up from factors outside our control can all affect our health in negative ways. We want to feel capable and strong, but we risk finishing many of our days defeated and broken. What if there was an innovative way to approach your days that helped make protecting your health your first priority? By centering your decision-making in a new way, you can thrive and perform at your best, no matter what challenges you face.
Join me for a deep dive to learn critical skills for protecting your health, no matter what is going on around you. In this science-based, interactive experience, you will learn three key questions to ask in any situation that will help you bring your health to the center of your decision-making process. We’ll talk about the latest science around how to support a health-based approach to work and life. We’ll delve into the coaching mindset: the ability you already have to embrace your innate expertise to identify the health tools that work best for you. You’ll leave with valuable takeaways: simple, actionable tools that lead to healthier daily routines, clarity around your life’s purpose and passion, and the ability to address challenges competently and confidently, no matter what else is going on in the world. This keynote will make you think, get you talking, and help you thrive for the long term.
THE HUBBLE DEEP FIELD
GUTSY SCIENCE IN AN AGE OF DOUBT THAT CHANGED OUR UNDERSTANDING OF GALAXIES, THE UNIVERSE, AND (ALMOST) EVERYTHING ELSE
Ideal for: An audience interested in learning how risk-taking and creativity can lead to astonishing discoveries
Program description: In December 1995, a group of postdoctoral researchers at the Space Telescope Science Institute under the direction of Robert “Bob” Williams, PhD, spent two weeks gathering data from the newly-repaired Hubble Space Telescope. They focused Hubble on a singular spot of what looked like empty sky in the constellation Ursa Major as it quietly orbited our planet. The image created from the data collected from that experiment—known today as the original Hubble Deep Field (HDF)—changed the way we think about the age and evolution of the universe, the field of galaxy morphology, and even how communities of scientists gather and share their data. The HDF was the first of many deep field studies that sent detailed, gorgeous images of galaxies in many stages of formation back to earth. Its findings directly impacted the design plans for future space-based telescopes, including the James Webb Space Telescope.
In my role as a science writer, I gathered some of the original HDF team members to write a retrospective on the project for the December 2025 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine. In this talk, I'll share stories of how the HDF project came together, how the article was researched, and how astronomers both professional and amateur can help spread the word about astronomy’s great discoveries to the wider public with great science storytelling.
ASTROCHEMISTRY FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE ASTRONOMY
(BUT WOULD RATHER NOT DO ALL THE MATH)
Ideal for: Educational organizations, astronomy clubs, and anyone interested in the "wow" moments behind some of our most amazing scientific discoveries
Program description: Astrochemistry is the science of using chemistry and physics principles to investigate the story of the early universe: how it evolved, molecule by molecule, from the birth of the universe to life on Earth today. In this talk, I'll guide your group on a tour of the latest science from the astrochemical world. From complicated carbon molecules being discovered in dark pre-stellar clouds to the secrets of interstellar ice, I'll help you understand how today’s astronomy professionals are unlocking the secrets of early universe chemistry. No complicated math required!
LESSONS FROM SCIENCE AND COACHING ABOUT TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS
Ideal for: Keynote presentations or conference breakout sessions for company retreats, leadership conferences, and team-building activities
Program description: Our health matters—but it’s often our last priority. Work stress, family responsibilities, and the worries that crop up from factors outside our control can all affect our health in negative ways. We want to feel capable and strong, but we risk finishing many of our days defeated and broken. What if there was an innovative way to approach your days that helped make protecting your health your first priority? By centering your decision-making in a new way, you can thrive and perform at your best, no matter what challenges you face.
Join me for a deep dive to learn critical skills for protecting your health, no matter what is going on around you. In this science-based, interactive experience, you will learn three key questions to ask in any situation that will help you bring your health to the center of your decision-making process. We’ll talk about the latest science around how to support a health-based approach to work and life. We’ll delve into the coaching mindset: the ability you already have to embrace your innate expertise to identify the health tools that work best for you. You’ll leave with valuable takeaways: simple, actionable tools that lead to healthier daily routines, clarity around your life’s purpose and passion, and the ability to address challenges competently and confidently, no matter what else is going on in the world. This keynote will make you think, get you talking, and help you thrive for the long term.
THE HUBBLE DEEP FIELD
GUTSY SCIENCE IN AN AGE OF DOUBT THAT CHANGED OUR UNDERSTANDING OF GALAXIES, THE UNIVERSE, AND (ALMOST) EVERYTHING ELSE
Ideal for: An audience interested in learning how risk-taking and creativity can lead to astonishing discoveries
Program description: In December 1995, a group of postdoctoral researchers at the Space Telescope Science Institute under the direction of Robert “Bob” Williams, PhD, spent two weeks gathering data from the newly-repaired Hubble Space Telescope. They focused Hubble on a singular spot of what looked like empty sky in the constellation Ursa Major as it quietly orbited our planet. The image created from the data collected from that experiment—known today as the original Hubble Deep Field (HDF)—changed the way we think about the age and evolution of the universe, the field of galaxy morphology, and even how communities of scientists gather and share their data. The HDF was the first of many deep field studies that sent detailed, gorgeous images of galaxies in many stages of formation back to earth. Its findings directly impacted the design plans for future space-based telescopes, including the James Webb Space Telescope.
In my role as a science writer, I gathered some of the original HDF team members to write a retrospective on the project for the December 2025 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine. In this talk, I'll share stories of how the HDF project came together, how the article was researched, and how astronomers both professional and amateur can help spread the word about astronomy’s great discoveries to the wider public with great science storytelling.
ASTROCHEMISTRY FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE ASTRONOMY
(BUT WOULD RATHER NOT DO ALL THE MATH)
Ideal for: Educational organizations, astronomy clubs, and anyone interested in the "wow" moments behind some of our most amazing scientific discoveries
Program description: Astrochemistry is the science of using chemistry and physics principles to investigate the story of the early universe: how it evolved, molecule by molecule, from the birth of the universe to life on Earth today. In this talk, I'll guide your group on a tour of the latest science from the astrochemical world. From complicated carbon molecules being discovered in dark pre-stellar clouds to the secrets of interstellar ice, I'll help you understand how today’s astronomy professionals are unlocking the secrets of early universe chemistry. No complicated math required!
WHERE I'VE SPOKEN
American College of Sports Medicine (National Conference)
Seattle Astronomical Society
University of British Columbia
Dutchess Community College
Sandburg Community College
King County Library System (WA)
Entrepreneurs' Organization
Seattle Opera
...and many others!
Seattle Astronomical Society
University of British Columbia
Dutchess Community College
Sandburg Community College
King County Library System (WA)
Entrepreneurs' Organization
Seattle Opera
...and many others!
What clients are saying:
Nicole is a unicorn—her storytelling, technical expertise, and deep understanding of what it takes for human beings to be happier and healthier in the workplace is a combination you simply won’t find anywhere else. Whether she’s sharing lessons from her distance running career or her experiences working with top science journals and technology companies, she’ll give your team insights they can immediately apply in their day-to-day work. |
Nicole has a rare talent for making complex astronomical concepts accessible, meaningful, and emotionally resonant. She not only explained what we are seeing in the Hubble Deep Field, but why it matters, connecting cutting-edge science to the broader importance of space and science education, curiosity, and public outreach. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and her passion for education shone through every part of the talk. |
I'd be delighted to connect with you to explore speaking to your organization. Please visit the Contact page to reach out to schedule a conversation.