October 21, 2024

Two new grants awarded to SEPAL from NIH and NSF!

SEPAL programs and research efforts aimed at humanizing scientists in undergraduate science courses have recently been awarded over $1.5 million in grant funding by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF). Both grants will expand upon the efforts of The Scientist Spotlights Initiative to expand and investigate how humanizing science curriculum may impact students’ interests, attitudes, and success in science.  

The NIH award – The Scientist Spotlights Partnership Program: Engaging High School Students in Exploring Biomedical Science Careers by Connecting with Counter-Stereotypical Scientists – will be launched in collaboration with colleagues at Foothill College and University of Georgia. We aim to partner high school teachers and students with undergraduate Biology students, who may serve as near peer mentors, to support high school students in co-authoring new Scientist Spotlights. To learn more about the NIH SEPA project, click here… 

The NSF award – Assessing the Impact of Engaging Students as Active Change Agents in Chemistry Curriculum Reform Using Scientist Spotlights – will be conducted in collaboration with Chemistry colleagues at the University of San Francisco. We aim to engage undergraduate students as active change agents in Chemistry curricula through authoring more Scientist Spotlights in chemistry. To learn more about the NSF IUSE project, click here

Both research and development efforts will contribute to the growing online database of Scientist Spotlights, where students in high school and college can experience the assignments and reflect on their own ideas about who does science.

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