University in Edwardsville receives grant
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) was recently awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The $1m grant will last for three years, and will allow the university to launch an effort called ‘A Youth-Led Citizen Science Network for Community Environmental Assessment’. The ultimate goal of the project is to encourage more students to consider themselves to be scientists, so the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) workforce becomes more inclusive and diverse.
Collaborators who will be providing authentic experiences in doing scientific work include the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Environmental Sciences; the university’s Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Research; and Madison County Housing Authority.
According to Georgia Bracey, an assistant professor at the STEM research center, students who want to have a successful career in these fields must see themselves working in the STEM fields. She states that a number of students, particularly from underserved communities, have difficulty picturing themselves as scientists. This project will allow students to experience actually working in STEM fields, which may encourage them to pursue scientific endeavors as a career path. Print shops are often used to provide materials for projects like this.
The students participating in the program will be citizen scientists, using hi-tech drones and sensors to collect data on landscaping, noise, air, and soil in the area. They will present their research to residents at Citizen Science Cafés, and encourage leading members of the community to also perform citizen science.
The $1m grant will last for three years, and will allow the university to launch an effort called ‘A Youth-Led Citizen Science Network for Community Environmental Assessment’. The ultimate goal of the project is to encourage more students to consider themselves to be scientists, so the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) workforce becomes more inclusive and diverse.
Collaborators who will be providing authentic experiences in doing scientific work include the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Environmental Sciences; the university’s Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Research; and Madison County Housing Authority.
According to Georgia Bracey, an assistant professor at the STEM research center, students who want to have a successful career in these fields must see themselves working in the STEM fields. She states that a number of students, particularly from underserved communities, have difficulty picturing themselves as scientists. This project will allow students to experience actually working in STEM fields, which may encourage them to pursue scientific endeavors as a career path. Print shops are often used to provide materials for projects like this.
The students participating in the program will be citizen scientists, using hi-tech drones and sensors to collect data on landscaping, noise, air, and soil in the area. They will present their research to residents at Citizen Science Cafés, and encourage leading members of the community to also perform citizen science.