Hi, I'm Molly. I am a science visualizer and communicator currently based in Toronto, Canada.
I am deeply interested in science visualization and communication because science is nothing if not communicated. Throughout my BSc in Marine Biology at Dalhousie University, I encountered a wide range of fascinating research; however, this research was often not known, not understood, or worse: misunderstood. The act of branching academic and public spheres of knowledge has become a central focus of mine – what do scientists choose to communicate, how do they communicate it, and how can I help?
I have been privileged to work for clients in a variety of disciplines such as marine biology, oceanography, microbiology, oncology, and patient health, among others. My favourite part of my job is that my clients are experts and passionate in their field. When they explain their research, I learn something new and can then help share that knowledge with a wider audience using visuals.
Previous Clients and Partners
Research Projects and Publications
Harmonizing multi-source backscatter data using bulk shift approaches to generate regional seabed maps: Bay of Fundy, Canada (2023)
Contributed to the cartographic design of a seabed map as well as a figure under the supervision of Dr. C Brown, Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University.
Citation: Haar, C., Misiuk, B., Gazzola, V., Wells, M., & Brown, C. J. (2023). Harmonizing multi-source backscatter data using bulk shift approaches to generate regional seabed maps: Bay of Fundy, Canada. Journal of Maps, 19(1), 2223629. https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2023.2223629
Infographics and/or Pictograms and Medication Adherence: A Scoping Review (2023)
Collaborated with coathors to create an infographic.
Citation: Chanzu, A., Wells, M., Vitkin, N., & Nersesian, S. (2023). Infographics and/or Pictograms and Medication Adherence: A Scoping Review. Healthy Populations Journal, 3(2), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.15273/hpj.v3i2.11553
Completed as an Honours thesis, supervised by Drs HK Lotze (Biology) and J Stamp (Psychology). Designed a survey assessing how different image types (photographs, illustrations, and art pieces) affect responses to marine conservation topics.
Wells, M. (2022). Assessing the Impact of Visual Media as an Outreach Tool for Marine Conservation [Dalhousie University]. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.31468.74887
Use of marine zoological illustration from Antiquity to modern times (2021)
Funded by the NSERC Nancy Witherspoon Memorial Summer Research Scholarship and supervised by Dr. Heike Lotze, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University. Investigated marine zoological illustration through history through a scoping review.
Sponges from the 2010-2014 Paamiut Multispecies Trawl Surveys, Eastern Arctic and Subarctic: Class Demospongiae, Subclass Heteroscleromorpha, Order Poecilosclerida, Families Microcionidae, Acarnidae and Esperiopsidae (2019)
Contributed to a published technical report by creating a morphological species description on Esperiopsis villosa. Supervised by Dr. Gabrielle Tompkins, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University.
Citation: Bouchard Marmen, M., Tompkins, G., Harrington, N., Savard-Drouin, A., Wells, M., Baker, E., Odenthal, B., Walkusz, W., Siferd, T. and Kenchington, E. 2019. Sponges from the 2010-2014 Paamiut Multispecies Trawl Surveys, Eastern Arctic and Subarctic: Class Demospongiae, Subclass Heteroscleromorpha, Order Poecilosclerida, Families Microcionidae, Acarnidae and Esperiopsidae. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3349: v + 76 p. https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.882761/publication.html
Published Illustrations
- completed on behalf on Designs That Cell
- completed on behalf on Designs That Cell
- see Engineering of adeno-associated viruses to enhance cell-specific transduction (Barbon) and Adeno-associated virus integration (Batty). Completed on behalf on Designs That Cell.
- completed on behalf on Designs That Cell.
- Microbiology : see Specificity of ADAMTS13 and regulation of ADAMTS13 function (Kretz). Completed on behalf on Designs That Cell
- completed on behalf on Designs That Cell
Academic Awards
Professor Nancy Grahame Joy Biomedical Communications Entrance Award (2023)
Awarded to one or more applicants to the Master of Science in Biomedical Communications with the highest entrance GPA, or best portfolio.
Awarded to one or more applicants to the Master of Science in Biomedical Communications with the highest entrance GPA, or best portfolio.
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2023)
University Medal in Marine Biology, Dalhousie University (2023)
Awarded to the top Marine Biology student graduating in 2023.
Awarded to the top Marine Biology student graduating in 2023.
Hugh P. Bell Scholarship, 1st place (2022)
Awarded to Biology/Marine Biology Honours student with the highest GPA in advanced courses.
Awarded to Biology/Marine Biology Honours student with the highest GPA in advanced courses.
Ocean Frontier Institute Summer at Sea Scholarship (2022)
Awarded to a Dalhousie student demonstrating academic achievement and interest in science communication, funding participation in United Nations sponsored One Ocean Expedition.
Awarded to a Dalhousie student demonstrating academic achievement and interest in science communication, funding participation in United Nations sponsored One Ocean Expedition.
Vemco Scholarship in Marine Biology (2022)
Awarded for demonstrating significant academic achievement and extracurricular involvement.
Awarded for demonstrating significant academic achievement and extracurricular involvement.
NSERC Nancy Witherspoon Memorial Summer Research Scholarship (2021)
Awarded based on student's academic record and research aptitude, funding 4 months of research under a supervisor.
Awarded based on student's academic record and research aptitude, funding 4 months of research under a supervisor.
Shao Hua and Wen Hsiang Yoh Prize in Biology (2020)
Awarded for having the highest standing in second year Biology courses at Dalhousie.
Awarded for having the highest standing in second year Biology courses at Dalhousie.
Dalhousie Renewable Entrance Scholarship (2018–2022)
Glenfir Legacy Award (2018)
Art Exhibits
Savary Island Land Trust Online Auction (2021)
Art on the Front Porch show at Savary Island (2015-2020)
Persephone: Changing Seasons & Selves, University of King's College, Halifax (2019)
Penticton Art Gallery's 42nd Annual Art Auction (2019)
Budding Artists Youth Art Exhibit at Tumbleweed Gallery (2019)
Kirsten Robertson + Molly Wells - a mother+daughter art exhibition (2017)
Reflections: Annual High School Exhibition at the Penticton Art Gallery (2017)
Penticton Art Gallery En Plein Air (2014-2017)
Penticton Art Gallery Under $500 Show & Sale (2013-2017)
The Evolution of Discovery: Annual High School Exhibition at the Penticton Art Gallery (2015)
art+wine show at Ad Hoc, Penticton (2013)
Conferences and Webinars
ComSciConCAN 2024 (2024)
- participated as expert reviewer
Science Atlantic 2022 Biology and Fisheries Conference (2022)
- presented honours research
Cameron Conference for Biology & Marine Biology honours students (2022)
- presented honours research
Webinar: Careers in Health: Science Illustration (2021)
- Co-presented on behalf of Designs That Cell for Pulse - Health Innovation Sandbox
Webinar: How to Visually Communicate Your Research (2021)
- Co-presented on behalf of Designs That Cell for Dalhousie OpenThink as well as the Dalhousie PhD Health Student Society
In the News
Epic ocean journey offers students a unique window into the climate crisis (Nov 23 2022)
Art in the Sciences (May 8 2021)
Interested in working together? reach out.
Thank you!