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.
SEPAL Postdoc Alumnus Sara Brownell, now at Arizona State University, is featured in a recent ASMBMB Today article titled “Changing pedagogy for changing students.” Sara shares her memories from the SEPAL Scientific Teaching Institute and how she has refocused her teaching to address equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Greetings from the Moscone Center here in San Francisco!
SEPAL was present at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2023 Meeting to present the Scientist Spotlights Initiative to the chemistry community. SEPAL Program Coordinator Lucy Luong was there in-person to represent and showcase Scientist Spotlights research led by Maurina Aranda, Dax Ovid, Jeff Schinske, and Kimberly Tanner.
Round of applause for SEPAL graduate student Elleanor Pangilinan on presenting her completed Master’s Thesis: “Investigating How Biology Faculty of Color Integrate Their Social Identity Into Their Professional Work.” Elleanor has officially earned her master’s degree at SFSU!
Round of applause for SEPAL graduate student Katherine (Katie) White on presenting her completed Master’s Thesis: “Investigating Student Memories of Stories Used to Teach Science.” Katie has officially earned her master’s degree at SFSU!
Round of applause for SEPAL graduate student Francisco Sanchez-Vasquez on presenting his completed Master’s Thesis: “Investigating Undergraduate Biology Student Leader Perceptions About How Biology Instructors Promote Inclusion.” Francisco has officially earned his master’s degree at SFSU!
Round of applause for SEPAL graduate student Lucia Hau on presenting her completed Master’s Thesis: “Investigating the Experiences of Southeast Asian Biology Majors at SFSU.” Lucia has officially earned her master’s degree at SFSU!
SEPAL Postdoc, Andrea Burton, has accepted a position as a lecturer in the Life Sciences Core Education Department at UCLA! She will be co-instructing Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology. She is also really excited to be contributing to assessment and course material development for these courses.
Current SEPAL Resource Center Student Assistant, Cell & Molecular Biology Major, and LEADS & PALS Alumnus, Laura Galvan has officially accepted a position in the MS Biology Graduate Program at SFSU! Laura will obtain her master’s degree working in the Riggs Lab and will be funded by the NSF STF Center for Cellular Construction Graduate Scholar Award.
Congratulations to Dax Ovid, L’vannah Abrams, Tess Carlson, Mark Dieter, Paulos Flores, David Frischer, Jolie Goolish, Michelle La-Fevre Bernt, Amber Lancaster, Christopher Lipski, Joshua Vargas Luna, Lucy M. C. Luong, Marlene Mullin, Mia Janelle Newman, Carolina Quintero, Julie Reis, Freja Robinson, Allison James Ross, Hilary Simon, Gianne Souza, Jess Taylor, Katherine E. Ward, Yvonne Lever White, Emily Witkop, Christine Yang, Aliza Zenilman, Eddie Zhang, Jeffrey N. Schinske, and Kimberly D. Tanner on their incredible, collaborative work leading to a new publication in CBE-Life Sciences Education!
Their research assessed the impact of Scientist Spotlights on high school students’ relatability to scientists, stereotypes about people who do science, and science identity.
To learn more about this, you can read “Scientist Spotlights in Secondary Schools: Student Shifts in Multiple Measures Related to Science Identity after Receiving Written Assignments” here!