Mika McKinnon

Mika McKinnon is an accomplished geophysicist and science communicator with extensive experience in academia, consulting, and media. At the SETI Institute, Mika serves as a Co-Investigator and Public Engagement Lead for Project ESPRESSO, focusing on adapting landslide runout models for extraterrestrial bodies to enhance mission safety and analysis. As a freelance entertainment science consultant, contributions to notable productions include Stargate: Atlantis and Star Trek: Discovery. Mika's journalism work spans publications such as BBC World and Wired. Additionally, roles at the University of British Columbia as an Adjunct Professor and a Research Analyst at FEMA emphasize expertise in geoscience and public communication. Academic credentials include an MSc in Geophysics from The University of British Columbia and a BA in Physics from UC Santa Barbara.