Why Public Trust in Science Starts with How We Tell the Story: Lessons from Princeton Research Day’s 10th Anniversary

Bottom Left: Earl Marvin Waterman (BASF, Iselin, New Jersey) and Bottom Right: Nerisa Eugenia Waterman (Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey)

This year marked the 10th anniversary of Princeton Research Day, a milestone celebrating a decade of groundbreaking student research at one of the world’s most prestigious institutions, Princeton University. As a communications and media professional, I was honored to serve as a judge for this special occasion. But for me, it was also deeply personal.

I stood in rooms with not only professional pride, but with personal pride, as the daughter of a man of science. Earl Marvin Waterman was a brilliant inventor and research specialist who spent his career breaking scientific ground at some of the most important chemical and aerospace companies in the world. His story is the reason why I made it my personal mission to be part of the 10th anniversary of Princeton Research Day. I believe in the power of science communicated with clarity, ethics, and heart.

A Legacy Rooted in Science and Service

My father began his career at Martin Marietta in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, an influential aerospace and chemical manufacturing firm that later became part of Lockheed Martin. He then worked at Engelhard Corporation in Iselin, New Jersey, a global leader in catalytic converters and precious metal innovations. Finally, he joined BASF, one of the largest chemical companies in the world, where he earned patents for his research in catalytic combustion and contributed to early cancer treatment research.

My father devoted his life to making the world safer and cleaner by engineering solutions that helped industries burn natural gas more efficiently using palladium-based catalysts, long before climate consciousness became a global priority. In his later years, he turned to cancer research, driven by the hope of saving lives. In a cruel twist of fate, he passed away in 2021 from the very disease he was working to cure.

He was known as the “MacGyver” of our family, always building, fixing, and exploring. His lab coat may have said “research specialist,” but we knew him as a problem-solver, a dreamer, and a mentor to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

Carrying the Legacy Forward Through Communication and Innovation

My father, Earl Marvin Waterman, worked behind the scenes in labs to advance cleaner energy and cancer research. His legacy lives on not just in the patents he earned or the research he advanced, but also in the work his children continue to do today. As the father of four, we honor Earl Marvin Waterman, not by following the same path, but by continuing his mission: to advance knowledge, uphold integrity, and use our skills to make a meaningful difference.

I carry that same legacy forward through a different lens. As a communications and media professional, I see my role as a bridge between science and the public, translating complex research into stories that people can understand, connect with, and trust. I work in front of audiences, behind cameras, and at the heart of digital platforms to amplify scientific breakthroughs and ensure it is communicated with heart, clarity, and integrity.

I’ve dedicated my career to elevating voices in science, technology, fashion, and culture, and through platforms like Princeton Research Day, I advocate for how critical it is to tell the story behind the science. Research doesn’t live in a vacuum, it lives in the real world, and how we tell that story affects how people understand it, fund it, and act on it.

Remembering the Past, Advocating for an Ethical Future

As a woman of West Indian, African American, Caribbean, and British descent, I am deeply aware of the complicated legacy science has in our communities. We’ve seen the devastating consequences of unethical research:

• The Tuskegee Syphilis Study, which began in 1932 and ended in 1972, in which African American men were denied treatment without their knowledge, was used as subjects rather than patients. They were deliberately misled and denied care so researchers could observe the effects of untreated syphilis.
• The story of Henrietta Lacks, a mother of five, whose cells were taken without consent during a cervical cancer biopsy and used for research. Her cells became the foundation of countless medical breakthroughs, yet her family remained uninformed and uncompensated for decades.
• The exposure of U.S. military veterans to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, a herbicide developed and deployed without full understanding or transparency about its long-term effects, leaving thousands with devastating health conditions. For decades, many suffered in silence, facing denials of care and recognition.

These stories aren’t just historical footnotes, they are cautionary tales of what happens when research is hidden or misused. They remind us that science must be conducted with ethics, transparency, and community trust at the forefront.

Why Princeton Research Day Matters Now More Than Ever

Princeton Research Day’s mission matters, and its 10th anniversary milestone represents Princeton University’s successful efforts to provide a platform and opportunities to build public trust in science.

As funding for research and education becomes increasingly politicized, we must double down on our support for the researchers, students, and educators behind the science. Breakthroughs don’t happen in isolation, they happen because we invest in people and institutions committed to asking bold questions, solving urgent problems, and sharing knowledge with the public in ways that are accessible and honest.

As a Princeton Research Day judge, I wasn’t just looking at the scientific data, I was also looking for the passion behind the research. I considered how the students framed their research, how they engaged in the communities they plan to serve, and how clearly they communicated their ideas. When science is shared the right way, it doesn’t just inform, it builds trust, it inspires action, and it changes lives.

Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future

Attending the 10th anniversary of this incredible event felt like a full-circle moment. It gave me the chance to honor my father’s legacy, uplift the next generation of scholars, and advocate for a more transparent, ethical, and inclusive future in science.

I’m grateful to Princeton University for the opportunity to serve as a judge during such a meaningful milestone. I hope to return next year as a continuing voice for research that serves the people it’s meant to help.