In Richmond, Activation Capital's Science Rocks series opens with Dr. Raven Baxter

Dr. Raven Baxter gave the keynote that opened Activation Capital's Science Rocks speaker series on May 8, 2025. The free evening event at the VA Bio+Tech Park in Richmond, Virginia, was aimed at middle and high school students, parents and science teachers from across the region.

Baxter told her story in stages, according to Activation Capital's account of the evening. She began as a girl who preferred The Weather Channel to cartoons. She went on to explore science as a student and to work in drug discovery research. Later she became known online for science parodies of hip-hop songs.

Baxter speaks from the podium at the VA Bio+Tech Park. Photo: Activation Capital

Attendees got the chance to sing along to two of her most popular music videos, "Wipe It Down" and "The Antibody Song."

The series began three weeks after the National Science Foundation posted updated priorities on April 18, 2025. The agency's guidance says it has terminated awards that no longer fit those priorities, including awards on diversity, equity and inclusion and on misinformation. In November 2024, Pew Research Center found that 76% of Americans had at least a fair amount of confidence in scientists to act in the public's best interests. That share was still below Pew's April 2020 reading.

Activation Capital created Science Rocks to combine science, education and inspiration through free events with speakers from across STEM. Beth O'Donnell, its vice president of finance, said Baxter "is redefining what it means to be a scientist." She added, "Her passion for making science accessible and inclusive is exactly what we hoped to spark with this series."

Activation Capital is an independent authority of the Commonwealth of Virginia that works to grow life sciences and advanced technology companies. It is headquartered in the Biotech Center at the park, at 800 E. Leigh St. The City of Richmond, the Commonwealth and Virginia Commonwealth University established the park in 1993 on 34 acres next to VCU Medical Center. Its seven buildings hold more than 1.3 million square feet of research, lab and office space. Activation Capital reports that it has supported more than 480 companies, which employ 3,112 people.

Baxter is a molecular biologist and science communicator, known online as Dr. Raven the Science Maven. She earned her Ph.D. at the University at Buffalo, where she studied science communication.

Activation Capital's account of the evening and the history of the park are on its website.