NSB Logo Dr. Samantha Yammine, aka ScienceSam

Dr. Samantha Yammine, aka ScienceSam


Neuroscientist, Science Communicator, and Digital Media Producer

Dr. Samantha Yammine loves talking about anything science, anywhere & everywhere – she’s hosted a livestream with an astronaut aboard the ISS and talked ringside with Muay Thai fighters about performance anxiety. She goes by Science Sam on Instagram, where she’s built a strong community of people who love her unique style of socially conscious science storytelling. She averages over 4 million views per month and engagement rates well above industry standard, making her an innovative leader in creating factual content that stands out online.

Keynote Speeches

Virtual Keynotes & Webinars
Contact us for more information about this speaker & their virtual presentations. Click here for some of the most popular formats for virtual events.
COVID Vaccine Town Hall

With the increase in vaccinated people, we now have the potential for more in-person connection than we’ve been used to during the pandemic. As we take cautious steps forward into less certain territory with variants like Delta, many have questions about what being back in classrooms and offices will look like.  How can I manage my role in the health and wellbeing of my family, friends and co-workers?

Science Sam addresses the science behind vaccines and of managing anxiety, as well as an opportunity for an interactive session to ask questions in a judgement free zone.

As both a neuroscientist and someone who has always had anxiety, in this talk Dr. Samantha Yammine navigates what happens in our brains when we’re anxious, and how to manage the transition to more in person connections, including back to school and in-office.

Sample Key takeaways:

1. A current understanding of the COVID landscape
2. Coping mechanisms for anxiety
3. Supporting your communities during fall transitions

The Neuroscience of Motivation

A fun talk about how our brains wire motivation and reward that leaves listeners with a greater appreciation for their hard-working brains, plus practical applications to the workplace.

Mind Your Matter: The Neuroscience of Anxiety

After a difficult year and major transition ahead of us, many people are experiencing anxiety in new or deeper ways. As both a neuroscientist and someone who has always had anxiety, in this talk Dr. Samantha Yammine will navigate what happens in our brains when we’re anxious, and how we can learn to cope in times of distress.

Stem Cell Hope vs Hype

This is an interactive presentation on how to work with educational content creators that have strong and trusted relationships with their audiences, showing examples of successful partnerships and strategies that go beyond the standard cringey #ad.

Platform Plus Presentations

Unique formats and ways to connect with audiences.
Host/MC
Samantha is an experienced event host who has hosted events for the City of Toronto, the Canadian Space Agency, the Ontario Science Centre, and TEDxUofT.
Event Moderator
A skilled event moderator, a panel discussion Samantha moderated was even featured in Netflix’s Unnatural Selection!
Panelist/In Conversation
Social Influencer

Audience reviews:

  • An incredible VLC! Lots of great information that was so easy to understand...Samantha did an amazing job of collating all of the advance employee questions and made everything sound so normal and understandable. Thank you! From comments received during the VLC I know our colleagues also enjoyed the information and clarity that she provided. - Municipal Property Assessment Corporation
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Speaker Biography

Dr. Samantha Yammine earned her PhD from the University of Toronto researching how stem cells build the mammalian brain before birth and maintain it throughout adulthood. In addition to her doctoral research, she co-authored a crowd-funded research study exploring the effects that #ScientistsWhoSelfie on Instagram can have on public perceptions of scientists. She’s also published in Nature and Science on communicating science online.

Samantha is passionate about empowering people to explore science by making it more familiar, accessible, and inclusive. She does this in part by sharing interactive science commentary and research updates on Instagram through short videos, emoji-filled captions, and engaging pictures. She’s created space for continued, multi-way dialogue about science that transcends geographical borders and the traditional gate-keeping of academia. A leader in digitizing science on social media, Samantha founded Science Sam Media in 2019 to continue to grow the reach and impact of her science communication initiatives.

Samantha always takes an audience-first approach to share complex topics in clear and entertaining ways. She is a frequently requested speaker and event host who loves engaging folks with anything science, anywhere & everywhere – she’s hosted a livestream with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station, presented her research on the streets at Toronto’s busiest intersection, talked ringside with Muay Thai fighters about performance anxiety, and showed off model and real brains at 1am in a Yurt during an all-night art festival. She leads interactive workshops on science communication, personal branding, and social media to teach scientists and STEM professionals the skills they need to share their science creatively.

She’s produced, scripted, and hosted educational videos for companies like 3M, GE, Lady Speedstick, and Seeker. She also regularly appears as a guest expert in the popular media including appearances on TVO Kids, AsapSCIENCE, Leafs Nation Network, Netflix, CBC GEM, and a regular correspondent with LBC Radio UK, CBC Radio, and NewsTalk1010. She has both hosted and spoken at TEDx events, with her TEDx talk entitled “You Are a Molecular Masterpiece” receiving thousands of views.

Samantha is a member of the Editorial Committee for the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers, and the Board of Trustees for the Royal Canadian Institute for Science. She was the Founder and a Co-Producer of the first ever #ScienceIsADrag event, which she continues to run in Toronto in partnership with RCIScience, Geith Maal-Bared, and Shawn Hercules.