As a journalist and science communicator based in Rhode Island, Shaun Kirby has reported on local communities, explained complex research and curated visual, graphic and written narrative products for the past 12 years. Much of the focus of his past work has been on marine and coastal issues. He is also a co-organizer of The Open Newsroom, a 12-week summer fellowship placing STEM-interested undergraduates into the role of community news reporters to develop a deeper understanding of how issues around science are impacting RI communities. The Open Newsroom has been developed in partnership with URI's Metcalf Institute.

As a senior fellow at URI's Coastal Institute, Shaun is supporting the science communication needs of faculty and student researchers across the state through the Rhode Island Network for Excellence in Science and Technology (RI-NEST), for which he is communications & outreach coordinator.