DR. ERIN MACDONALD
Erin Macdonald (PhD, Astrophysics) is a tattooed one-woman STEAM career panel, with recognition as a researcher, educator, engineer, and consultant before her current career. She lives in Los Angeles working as a writer and producer and is currently the science advisor for the entire Star Trek franchise.
About
Erin Macdonald (PhD, Astrophysics) is a writer, speaker, producer, and science advisor, best known for her current work as the official science advisor for the STAR TREK franchise. She has also voiced her fictional counterpart in the Star Trek universe: Lt Cmdr Erin Macdonald in Star Trek: Prodigy and the video game Star Trek Online. Through her company Spacetime Productions, she produces award-winning sci-fi films by LGBTQIA+ creators. Her most recent film IDENTITEAZE written and directed by Jessie Earl will be available for streaming on Nebula in mid-2024. As a science communicator, Erin has appeared on NPR's Science Friday and Short Wave podcasts, provided commentary for numerous docuseries, and wrote and hosted the award-winning "Science of Star Trek" promotional videos for Paramount+. She wrote the baby board book "Star Trek: My First Book of Space" and wrote and narrated the Audible Original "The Science of Sci-Fi" in collaboration with The Great Courses. Prior to all of this work, she received her PhD at the University of Glasgow in Scotland and conducted research with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) Scientific Collaboration, but left shortly before their 2017 Nobel Prize winning discovery of gravitational waves. She also has worked as a museum educator, community college professor, and Department of Defense systems engineering technical advisor. She lives in Los Angeles with her Viking husband (and occasional writing partner) and enjoys playing video games, hiking, and drinking whisky.
AVAILABLE TALKS
"Representation Matters: How STEM in TV and Movies led me to Hollywood"
A personal journey through Dr Macdonald's varied career, teaching that passion and seeing yourself represented can be a guiding light as you find your path.
Target Audience: High School/College/University Students; STEM-themed Career Events
"Physics and Star Trek"
An exploration of the various technologies throughout the legacy of the Star Trek franchise, and how the relationship between science and Star Trek has evolved over the decades.
Target Audience: Science Fiction fans, Popular Science Events
"The Interconnectivity of Science and Popular Culture"
A discussion on how science and popular culture have developed an intertwined relationship over the last century: science inspiring story, and stories inspiring careers and technology.
Target Audience: Popular Science Events, General Audience
“Erin was fantastic. Her presentation style was very approachable and engaging. She interacted with the students and community members so well. We would highly recommend Erin as a speaker.”
— Tammy Harrington, Professor of Art, University of the Ozarks