The Republic of Science is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization dedicated to developing and sustaining a scientifically literate, knowledgeable, and curious population through public engagement on science. Founded by science and engineering leaders in 2017 and governed by its Board of Directors, the Republic of Science is a national organization established to promote the scientific process, to distill scientific knowledge, to participate in the analyses of scientific information, and to encourage the presentation of analytical evidence in debate.
Board of Directors
Frank Centinello
(chair [at] sciencerepublic.org)
Dr. Frank Centinello is a NOAA Corps aviator supporting various research missions throughout the United States including hydrology, atmospheric research, marine life surveys, and coastal mapping, among others. He graduated in 2015 with a Ph.D. in geophysics from MIT, where he studied terrestrial and planetary gravimetry and gravity modeling. He has supported the NASA Dawn and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter missions. He worked for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory after completing a B.S. and M.S. in aerospace engineering at University at Buffalo with a focus in guidance, navigation and control. Public science literacy has always been a passion for Frank; he was a recurring invited speaker at the Boston Museum of Science and frequently seeks opportunities to present to K-12 students.
Ali Bramson
(bramson [at] sciencerepublic.org)
Ali Bramson is a planetary scientist at the University of Arizona who specializes in the distribution, properties and stability of ice on Mars. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2011 with Bachelor degrees in physics and astrophysics and a minor in computer science. She got her PhD in planetary science with a minor in geosciences from the University of Arizona in 2018. In her studies, she primarily uses orbital spacecraft data from cameras and radar systems, such as those onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, in conjunction with theoretical computer models and field work at terrestrial analog sites. Ali enjoys communicating the excitement of planetary exploration to the public, often giving talks to local schools and at science festivals.
Alexander Evans
(evans [at] sciencerepublic.org)
Dr. Alexander Evans is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences at Brown University. Prior to joining Brown University, he completed his Ph.D. in planetary geophysics and geodynamics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He also holds a M.S. in Geobiology from MIT and a B.S.E. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. Presently, he conducts research to advance the current understanding of the rocky worlds of the Solar System. His work includes analyses of altimetry, gravity, and tectonics to determine the structure, surface, and internal evolution of rocky worlds. He has also been involved in the design, development, and implementation of planetary exploration missions.
Kristen Paris
(paris [at] sciencerepublic.org)
Kristen Paris is a research analyst at Arizona State University working on instrument operations for several NASA missions. She graduated from the University at Buffalo in 2006 with Bachelor’s degrees in biology and geology, and from ASU in 2008 with a Master’s of Science in Planetary Geology studying the Athabasca Valles region of Mars. After graduation, she stayed at ASU to do instrument operations for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera Science Operations Center, where she automated herself out of a job so she could do other cool stuff, like work fun science projects with the LROC data and downlink assessment for Pancam on MER and Mastcam on MSL. She is looking forward to designing and automating the downlink processes for the Mastcam-Z camera that will be on the Mars 2020 rover.
Michael Sori
(sori [at] sciencerepublic.org)
Dr. Michael Sori is a planetary scientist at the University of Arizona studying the solid bodies of our solar system. He graduated from Duke University in 2008 with Bachelor degrees in Math and Physics, and from MIT in 2014 with a Ph.D. in planetary science. He has published studies on Mars, the Moon, Mercury, Ceres, and the moons of Uranus using data from several NASA spacecraft missions. Mike has been awarded grants of several hundreds of thousands of dollars from NASA as a Principal Investigator and regularly shares the results of his research with audiences such as museums, schools, and amateur astronomy clubs.
Sonia Tikoo
(tikoo [at] sciencerepublic.org)
Dr. Sonia Tikoo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Rutgers University. She received her B.S. degree in Geology and History (Minor) from the California Institute of Technology in 2008 and her Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2014. Her research is focused in the fields of planetary magnetism and impact cratering. Specifically, she has worked on understanding the ancient intensity and longevity of the Moon’s now-extinct core dynamo magnetic field, assessing the rock magnetic properties of meteorites, and determining how impact events modify magnetization preserved within planetary crusts. Tikoo is passionate about science communication and has worked with numerous media outlets, including stints on NPR’s Science Friday and PBS’ NOVA, to disseminate knowledge about the Moon, impact craters, and magnetism in general to the general public.