Kika Tuff, Ph.D.

founder, scientist, and storyteller at impact media lab

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Kika Tuff is an ecologist, filmmaker, and founder of Impact Media Lab, a creative studio dedicated to science storytelling. Since founding the company in 2016, she has led the production of more than 450 multimedia campaigns, helping researchers communicate complex discoveries through compelling visual storytelling. Impact Media Lab’s work has supported scientists in securing nearly $6.5 million in National Science Foundation funding through Broader Impacts partnerships.

After earning her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado Boulder, Kika transitioned from academic research to filmmaking, driven by the belief that scientific discoveries create change only when they reach broad audiences. Her clients include the American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Science Foundation, NASA, Schmidt Biosciences, and researchers at institutions including Stanford, Princeton, and Yale.

Outside of work, Kika practices her craft leading quests in a long-standing game of Dungeons & Dragons. Storytelling-as-play remains a driving philosophy of her life and work.

education

Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolution: University of Colorado, Boulder (2016)
Advisor: Dr. Kendi Davies
Dissertation title: On taking a thermal approach to fragmentation research
Focus on reptile physiology, thermal ecology, habitat fragmentation, and conservation.

B.A. in Biology: Washington University in St. Louis (2003)
Advisor: Dr. Jonathan Losos
Major: Environmental Studies - Biological track
Minor: African & African-American studies

select Publications & Presentations

Creating Study-Specific Tools to Increase Community and Student Engagement.
Dunbar-Wallis, A., Jaeger, D., Suding, K., Littman, P., Baumgartner, L., Prater, M., Schuenemeyer, A., Tuff, K., Hogstad, A. B., Alam, I., & Corwin, L. (2021). Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, vol. 6, no. 1. GALE | A688529500

Climate Change Conversations: Engaging Communities in Dialogue about Impacts, Risks, and Responses
E.T. Cloyd, J.S. Dukes, J. Hellmann, K. Tuff. (2020). ESA Annual Meeting (August 3-6, 2020).

The future of ecology is collaborative, inclusive and deconstructs biases.
Ramirez, Kelly & Berhe, Asmeret & Burt, Jenn & Gil-Romera, Graciela & Johnson, Rebecca & Koltz, Amanda & Lacher, Iara & McGlynn, Terry & Nielsen, Karina & Schmidt, Ruth & Simonis, Juniper & Terhorst, Casey & Tuff, Kika. (2017). Nature Ecology & Evolution. 2. 10.1038/s41559-017-0445-7.

Branding Is Not a Dirty Word: Marketing Yourself and Your Science in a Digital World.
K. Tuff. (2017). ESA Annual Meeting (August 6-11, 2017).

Full list on Google Scholar