Chase Wagner is a master's student and graduate teaching assistant pursuing research interests within science and health communication. He graduated from Colorado State University with B.S. degrees in neuroscience and biomedical science, along with a minor in computer science. During this time, Chase completed an undergraduate thesis about the role of micro- and nano-plastic induced inflammation in the gut and brain in depression. For his master's thesis, he hopes to investigate media portrayals of health and environmental hazards, such as microplastics. He is additionally intrigued by how audience perceptions and behaviors may be shaped by these portrayals and techniques to communicate scientific uncertainty.