Katherine Reilly

Kathy Reilly is a senior scientific communications expert and an award winning illustrator with a diverse background in human biology and physiology, molecular biology, strategic communications, outreach and education. She develops communications and partnerships for the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program as the Strategic Partnerships Manager within NASA HQ. She takes complex scientific and technical information and converts it into engaging, easy-to-understand text, imagery, video, and social media to convey NASA/NIAC science to diverse global audiences at all technical levels. Her passion to inspire STEM/STEAM developed into NIAC’s Inventive Genius Lecture Series: “From Science Fiction to Science Fact” or “SciFi to SciFact” where NIAC researchers share their studies with general public audiences at science and technology museums across the U.S. She also developed a partnership with World Book, Inc., to create a powerful book series for youth entitled, Out of This World. It’s a unique 24 book series where individual NIAC scientists tell how they grew from students to inventors and now tackle some of NASA’s biggest challenges. She continues to work with the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago developing space exploration and scientific exhibits and is on MSI’s scientific advisory board. Her educational outreach program  to under-served students in “Mission to Mars: An Urban/Rural Collaborative To Inspire NASA’s Next Generation” has inspired a new generation of explorers. Her background also includes work at the Medical College of Virginia, and Yale University’s Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry. She continues to work with scientific experts globally, news and media outlets, museums, universities, and national publications.

Email: hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov