The Genius Generation

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Stephanie Castillo
Season 2 Host

Dr. Stephanie Castillo is a science video producer, writer, and content creator with a Ph.D. in science communication from Vanderbilt University. Her research focused on how representation and storytelling affect how young adults engage with science and scientists through video. Stephanie's research is an extension of Phuture Doctors: a digital media company with a mission to change the face of science, one video at a time. Phuture Doctors introduces young adults to diverse professionals in STEM while exploring careers, identity, and belongingness. Dr. Castillo's science, teaching, journalism, and filmmaking training have allowed her to carry out this initiative and produce multimedia science stories for audiences 13 and up.

Danni Washington
Season 1 Host

Miami native with Jamaican roots, Danni Washington is deeply passionate about our oceans and science communications. She dreamed of studying the oceans since she was six years old. In 2008, Danni graduated from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science with a B.Sc. in Marine Science/Biology. At age 21, she co-founded along with her mom, Michelle Swaby-Smith the Big Blue & You - A 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and educating youth about marine conservation through the arts and media. "Ocean Conservation through Artistic Inspiration". She also served for four years as a naturalist at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center where she helped educate thousands of South Florida children about local marine ecosystems.

For three years, Danni served as an on-camera personality and science filmmaker with Untamed Science which created nearly 200 K-12 Science Educational Videos for Pearson textbooks that are currently in classrooms across the USA), Ocean GEMS (a multimedia series and outreach program connecting teens to marine scientists mentors and role models inspiring them to pursue careers in marine science) and she also co-starred with Jaden Smith in the official educational outreach video for the theatrical film After Earth starring Jaden and his dad, Will Smith.

Danni has a deep appreciation for the arts and seeks any creative outlet to express herself including dance, film and music. She is an avid scuba diver, passionate curly girl, stand-up paddle boarding enthusiast, MOCHA MERMAID and overall lover of the natural world, she is ALWAYS ready for an ADVENTURE.