Brilliant on a Budget: How Mar Dixon Connected Millions to Museums

Darlene Cavalier

Darlene Cavalier (pictured on the right in photo, with Mar Dixon, left) is a professor of practice at Arizona State University’s School for the Future of Innovation in Society and a Senior Global Futures Scientist, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at ASU. Cavalier is also an Honorary Fellow at Southern Denmark University, the Founder of SciStarter and Science Cheerleaders, Inc, cofounder of Science Cheerleaders, cofounder of ECAST: Expert and Citizen Assessment of Science and Technology and cofounder of ScienceNearMe.org. Cavalier is a member of NOAA’s Science Advisory Board, is the author of several books and is cochair of America 250’s Innovation, Science, and Entrepreneurism Advisory Council. Mar and Dar shared a spirit of entrepreneurship and adventure for more than 50 years.

Caroline Nickerson

Caroline Nickerson is a civic engagement advocate, science communicator, and nonprofit leader. She serves as the Executive Director of Florida Community Innovation (FCI), where she supports young innovators building civic tech tools to address pressing issues like food insecurity, housing instability, and historical preservation. Caroline is also a longtime contributor to the citizen science movement through SciStarter and CitSci.org, championing accessible, inclusive public participation in research.

Caroline worked with public engagement pioneer Mar Dixon on social media campaigns for Citizen Science Month, helping amplify stories of science participation across the globe. She now honors Mar’s legacy by volunteering with Museum Selfie Day, continuing to celebrate community connection, digital storytelling, and cultural institutions through joyful online engagement.

Jacqueline Lewis

Jacqueline Lewis earned her J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law and studied economics and philosophy at Albertus Magnus College. She is a retired member of the Pennsylvania Bar, former Claims Counsel with Zurich and Reliance Insurance Companies, and former Director of Operations at the Penn Museum. Together with Mar, she led outreach for a variety of public engagement in science programs. Ms. Lewis founded the World Gratitude Map. Her advice has appeared in Forbes, Redbook and other national publications. She is the author of  Life Begins at the End of Your Comfort Zone and contributed to The Law of Performance Bonds, Second Edition.