In this episode of the SciAnts Streams Women in STEAM 2026 series, we feature RareGangster—a content creator whose foundation in applied mathematics and biomedical engineering continues to shape her work, even outside traditional STEM roles.

RareGangster reflects on a nonlinear career path that began with a passion for gaming and evolved into a STEM education she didn’t initially plan to pursue. Although she now works full-time as a Twitch streamer, she discusses how her technical background remains central to her approach—particularly in analyzing growth metrics, optimizing content strategies, and building systems-driven workflows for streaming success.

The conversation also addresses the social realities of being a woman in both STEM and online spaces. RareGangster shares candid experiences with bias, objectification, and harassment, highlighting how these challenges can impact confidence and recognition—while emphasizing the importance of resilience, self-validation, and community support.

Beyond career and challenges, the episode explores the broader role of streaming as a platform for visibility and influence. RareGangster discusses how creators—especially women with STEM backgrounds—can serve as powerful role models, inspiring audiences who may not see themselves represented in traditional scientific spaces.

This episode is a conversation about adaptability, identity, and the transferability of STEM skills—demonstrating that scientific thinking doesn’t end at the lab, but can shape careers in unexpected and impactful ways.

In this episode of the SciAnts Streams Women in STEAM 2026 series, we feature Dr. Leandra—an animal scientist whose work sits at the intersection of animal behavior, nutrition, microbiology, and agricultural systems, as well as a Twitch Partner dedicated to science communication.

Leandra walks us through her journey from a childhood passion for animals and an initial goal of veterinary school to an unexpected entry into graduate research. That pivot led her to study how early weaning impacts pig development and how targeted nutritional interventions—such as supplementing diets with epidermal growth factor produced via engineered bacteria—can support gut health and improve growth outcomes in agricultural settings.

The conversation unpacks both the scientific and human sides of research: designing and scaling animal studies, translating bench science into real-world applications, and navigating the ethical frameworks that govern animal research. Leandra also reflects on the role of passion-driven experiences, from wildlife rehabilitation to farm-based research, in shaping a scientific career.

Throughout the episode, we also explore how platforms like Twitch are reshaping science communication—creating spaces where researchers can engage directly with public audiences and demystify complex topics in real time.

This is a conversation about adaptability, interdisciplinary science, and the evolving landscape of how science is both conducted and shared.

This episode of Together for Legendary Women in STEAM 2026 features Mallory, an archaeologist and science communicator.

Mallory shares her path into archaeology, clarifies common misconceptions about the field, and discusses the realities of scientific work—from field research to career pressures. The conversation also explores her presence on Twitch, where she bridges the gap between academic science and public engagement.

With a focus on accessibility, community, and representation, this episode provides an honest look at what it means to be a woman in STEAM today—both in the lab and online.

KaseySnowArt, a scientific illustrator and educator, joins SciAnts_Streams to explore the deep connections between art and science. With a background in fine arts and a focus on animal anatomy, she uses her work to communicate complex biological ideas and highlight issues in conservation.

In this conversation, she discusses how curiosity and observation drive both artists and scientists, and how her work brings anatomical accuracy and storytelling together to engage audiences on Twitch and in the classroom. She also shares her goals of expanding into children’s educational content and using art to make science more accessible and meaningful.

This episode highlights the role of interdisciplinary thinking in STEAM, emphasizing how artistic approaches can enhance science communication, foster curiosity, and inspire broader engagement with the natural world.

Recorded March 5th, 2026

Volcanodoc—a volcanologist, professor, and Twitch science communicator—joins SciAnts_Streams to discuss both the inner workings of volcanoes and the realities of building a career in science.

VolcanoDoc explains how her research uses mineral and lava chemistry to map where magma is stored beneath volcanoes and how eruptions are triggered, offering insight into how scientists assess volcanic hazards. The discussion also explores what fieldwork actually entails, from collecting samples on obsidian flows to analyzing them with advanced geochemical tools.

Equally central is her personal story: leaving high school as a teen mother, working while raising a child, and navigating a nontraditional path through higher education to earn a PhD and secure a tenure-track position in an extremely competitive academic landscape.

This episode highlights both the technical depth of volcanology and the importance of persistence, mentorship, and access in STEAM—showcasing how science and lived experience intersect in meaningful ways.

How do you become an Egyptologist? What's it like digging through red clay? What are field excavations really like? Join us for the first segment of our 2026 Women in STEAM series where we talk with Egyptologist, archaeologist, educator, and Twitch streamer MelissainDeNile.