Ann Merchant

 

 

Ann Merchant has worked in marketing and communications for more than 20 years. She is currently the Deputy Executive Di­rector for Communications at the National Academies of Sci­ence, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, D.C., where she is responsible for a number of innovative outreach pro­grams that contribute to an increased public understanding of science.

 

With a special interest in promoting science, engineering, and medicine through non-traditional entertainment channels such as television, film, and videogames, she was instrumental in laun­ching and now overseeing the Science & Entertainment Ex­change, a program of the National Academy of Sciences that seeks to connect entertainment industry professionals with top scientists and engineers. She also has responsibility for the Sci­ence & Engineering Ambassador Program, an outreach pro­gram that engages, informs, and empowers local opinion leaders to apply research to community decisions.

 

Merchant also served for many years as marketing director for the Academies’ publishing division where she and her staff pro­moted and marketed more than 175 new titles every year.