Stephanie J. Slater, Ph.D., is a cognitive scientist specializing in how people of all ages and backgrounds learn to navigate the intersection of science and culture. Currently, she is the Director of the CAPER Center for Astronomy and Physics Education Research. After undergraduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduate work at Montana State University, Dr. Slater earned her Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in socio-cultural learning, studying how research experiences influence the professional career pathways and attitudes of women scientists. She is a widely read author and frequently invited speaker at science fiction conventions, describing how society reacts to the evolution of science and technology.