Portfolio
MS in Scientific and Technical Writing:
Study on health communications designed for children
https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/202780
For this paper and presentation, I studied methods used by diabetes educators to communicate to their young patients on health topics. Children with type I diabetes must take an active role in managing their health. It is the job of diabetes educators to work with these kids to make sure that they understand their medical condition in order to maintain their health. For this paper I interviewed several diabetes educators and analyzed the different methods that they use to communicate to their patients.
Published Books:
Why We Love: The Science of Affection
Google preview: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Why_We_Love/ZNmaDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22why+we+love%22+lilley&pg=PP1&printsec=frontcover
Written at a middle grade reading level, this book looks at the science behind why we feel love and affection. The overall purpose of this book was to increase kids’ emotional intelligence and help them understand how to form healthy relationshps.
Why We Cry: The Science of Tears
Google preview: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Why_We_Cry/YtmaDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22why+we+cry%22+lilley&printsec=frontcover
This book looks at the science behind why people cry. The overall purpose of this book was to help kids understand healthy ways to process emotions, especially sadness. Also included is a chapter on depression.
Good Eating: The Short Life of Krill
Google preview: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Good_Eating_The_Short_Life_of_Krill/ql45EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=good+eating+lilley&printsec=frontcover
Good Eating: The Short Life of Krill is a narrative nonfiction picture book that explains the essential role that krill play in the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Written at a second grade reading level, Good Eating demonstrates my experience in finding creative ways to convey complex information.
Blog Posts:
My blog on polar science, education, and children’s literature.
On The Ice
This blog post talks about Matt Simon’s book, A Poison Like No Other: How Microplastics Corrupted Our Planet and Our Bodies, and a related webinar that Simon presented for CHE Alaska.
Collaborative for Health & Environment - A Poison Like No Other
Archimedes Notebook - Making Connections
https://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/06/making-connections-by-matt-lilley.html
I wrote this blog post for Sue Heavenrich’s Archimedes Notebook. This post is about seeing the connections between the plants and animals around us.
March On with Mentor Texts - Finding the Extraordinary
https://www.rateyourstory.org/single-post/mo-day-12-matt-lilley-finds-the-extraordinary
This blog post explains how authors can use nonfiction picture books as mentor texts to help draft their own manuscripts.
Other Projects
Arctic Data Stories
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c26ec10a3abf4cf288b150e0fce8da57
This project was conceived by Harvard and the Woodwell Climate Research Center. My group was tasked with creating a StoryMap that explored some issue related to climate change in the Arctic. My group decided to focus our story on the establishment of Marine Protected Areas in the Arctic Ocean. For this project, I identified and interviewed the scientists featured in the story. I also wrote the introduction and the conclusion.
Software Instructions for the English Learning Center
The English Learning Center (ELC) provides English language instruction to adult immigrants. They teach in-person classes. They also direct their students to additional instructional materials found at several third-party websites. For this project, I developed a webpage that linked to the various third-party websites. I also developed instructions on logging into and using the different websites. The audience for these instructions have limited experience with English, so it was important to keep the text spare and use clear visuals. These instructions are intended to be printed and provided as a handout.
Sample Software Use Instructions
Shop Flor Work Bench - Work Order Reporting
Sample of instructions for using JD Edwards ERP software.