Dr. Michelle Thaller, an Astronomer and Deputy Director of Science for Communications at NASA Headquarters, presented a Maniac lecture entitled, "Emotional Science.” As a science communicator, for years, Michelle has watched audiences, large and small, respond to science talks. All too often, she has watched the most fascinating, awe-inspiring images and discoveries fail to even keep an audience awake. Without an emotional connection to latch on to, most people do not respond to scientists, which in the past may have been innocuous –just perpetuating a stereotype of the blank, overly intellectual science personality. But in today’s world of deniers, false news, and a desperate need to address climate change, emotional irrelevance is a luxury we can no longer afford.”