Nicole Boeck

Biochemist, science writer, author and coach

Nicole Boeck is a biochemist, science writer, and health coach whose work has appeared in publications including the New York Times, Runner’s World, Immunology and Cell Biology, Sky & Telescope, and many others. She has worked for NBC and Sports Illustrated at four Olympic Games, and has interviewed multiple world champions and Olympic medalists. Nicole holds a graduate certificate in health and wellness coaching from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, in addition to degrees from Harvard University, the University of California-Berkeley, and the University of Washington. She is the co-author of the outdoor fitness manual Fit by Nature (writing as M. Nicole Nazzaro). Nicole earned a professional speaking credential from the National Speakers’ Association and has presented workshops for thousands of audience members, including at the American College of Sports Medicine’s national health and fitness conference. She has completed sixteen marathons as a “midpacker” (an ordinary runner who’s never going to win a medal) and uses her running experience as inspiration for her Substack newsletter on health and thriving, Midpacker Rising. Audiences love her down-to-earth approach, her relatable style, and her commitment to helping everyone discover their own path to a healthy, vibrant life.

Speaking Topics:

Health-Centered Leadership: How to thrive at work and in life
Our health matters—but it’s often our last priority. Work stress, family responsibilities, and the worries that crop up from factors outside our control can all affect our health in negative ways. We want to feel capable and strong, but we risk finishing many of our days defeated and broken. What if there was an innovative way to approach your days that helped make protecting your health your first priority? By centering your decision-making in a new way, you can thrive and perform at your best, no matter what challenges you face. Join Nicole Glaser Boeck, biochemist, science writer, and health and wellness coach, for a deep dive to learn critical skills for protecting your health, no matter what is going on around you. In this science-based, interactive experience, you will learn three key questions to ask in any situation that will help you bring your health to the center of your decision-making process. We’ll talk about the latest science around how to support a health-based approach to work and life. We’ll delve into the coaching mindset: the ability you already have to embrace your innate expertise to identify the health tools that work best for you. You’ll leave with valuable takeaways: simple, actionable tools that lead to healthier daily routines, clarity around your life’s purpose and passion, and the ability to address challenges competently and confidently. This keynote will make you think, get you talking, and help you thrive for the long term.

30 Years of the Hubble Deep Field: Gutsy Science in an Age of Doubt that Changed Our Understanding of Galaxies, the Universe (and Everything)
In December 1995, a group of postdoctoral researchers at the Space Telescope Science Institute under the direction of Robert “Bob” Williams, PhD, spent two weeks gathering data from the newly-repaired Hubble Space Telescope. They focused Hubble on a singular spot of what looked like empty sky in the constellation Ursa Major as it quietly orbited our planet. The image created from the data collected from that experiment—known today as the original Hubble Deep Field (HDF)—changed the way we think about the age and evolution of the universe, the field of galaxy morphology, and even how communities of scientists gather and share their data. The HDF was the first of many deep field studies that sent detailed, gorgeous images of galaxies in many stages of formation back to earth. Its findings directly impacted the design plans for future space-based telescopes, including the James Webb Space Telescope. Science writer Nicole Glaser Boeck gathered some of the original HDF team members to write a retrospective on the project for the December 2025 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine. An Edmonds resident, she joins SAS on December 17 to share stories of how the HDF project came together, how the article was researched, and how astronomers both professional and amateur can help spread the word about astronomy’s great discoveries to the wider public with great science storytelling.

“Nicole has a rare talent for making complex astronomical concepts accessible, meaningful, and emotionally resonant. She not only explained what we are seeing in the Hubble Deep Field, but why it matters, connecting cutting-edge science to the broader importance of space and science education, curiosity, and public outreach. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and her passion for education shone through every part of the talk.”
Crystal Kaya,President, Seattle Astronomical Society