{"id":1549,"date":"2020-12-29T15:48:56","date_gmt":"2020-12-29T15:48:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/?page_id=1549"},"modified":"2020-12-29T16:51:04","modified_gmt":"2020-12-29T16:51:04","slug":"stem-diversity","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/2020-issue\/stem-diversity\/","title":{"rendered":"Ph.D. Students to Enhance STEM Diversity Through Podcast and Outreach"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.7.7&#8243; background_color_gradient_direction=&#8221;90deg&#8221; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/12\/awards_header_red.jpg&#8221; parallax=&#8221;on&#8221; parallax_method=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0|0px|50px|0px|false|false&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.7.7&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;66px|0px|26.015625px|0px|false|false&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.7.7&#8243; text_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; header_font=&#8221;|800|||||||&#8221; header_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;60px&#8221; header_3_text_color=&#8221;#e0e0e0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: left\">PH.D. STUDENTS TO ENHANCE STEM DIVERSITY THROUGH PODCAST AND OUTREACH<\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>by Emily Payne<\/h3>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.7.7&#8243; background_color=&#8221;rgba(255,255,255,0.5)&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|25px||25px||true&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/12\/Alyssa_Lawler.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;ARCS Donor Appreciation Reception&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.7.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; border_width_bottom=&#8221;40px&#8221; border_color_bottom=&#8221;#911423&#8243;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.7.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p><em>Alyssa Lawler<\/em><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.7.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px||10px||false|false&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/12\/Sarah_Werner.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Sarah_Werner&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.7.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; border_width_bottom=&#8221;40px&#8221; border_color_bottom=&#8221;#911423&#8243;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.7.7&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#0a0a0a&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><em>Sarah Werner<\/em><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.7.7&#8243; text_font=&#8221;||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#000&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>Ph.D. candidates Alyssa Lawler and Sarah Werner received the Department of Biological Sciences\u2019 Margaret Carver Award for Enhancing Diversity, Equitability and Inclusion. The $5,000 award can be used for any endeavor that enhances diversity, equitability and inclusion in the Carnegie Mellon University or wider community.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Lawler requested the award to create a podcast on science at CMU.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m really excited about this idea,\u201d said Lawler, who has been tinkering with starting a podcast for science since interviewing for graduate schools. Inspired by successful science podcasts such as Hidden Brain and Radio Lab, Lawler realized their power in not only making science accessible to wide audiences but contributing to her own sense of belonging in science and academia.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think storytelling is such a powerful and inclusive way to communicate science and it can really help bring anyone into our world,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>The forthcoming podcast would showcase student-driven research at CMU while aiming to demystify science and give listeners a candid view into diverse perspectives from scientists. Lawler would also like to incorporate wider discussions on mental health, politics and diversity in science. In particular, she wants discussion topics to be guided by campus climate and current events where a diverse array of voices can speak to how these topics relate to science.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt doesn\u2019t have to be me who is leading the conversation,\u201d Lawler noted. She invites graduate students and post-docs to join her on this journey: \u201cIf you have science stories, personal stories or things that are on your mind, reach out about anything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Werner plans to use the award to design an interactive STEM outreach curriculum for children of immigrants and refugees. The curriculum will introduce them to fundamental scientific principles, notable discoveries and current developments while emphasizing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Werner also plans to invite guest speakers to share their research and organize a science fair that students could participate in through the program.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>To facilitate her project, Werner connected with the local volunteer organization Alliance for Refugee Youth Support and Education and their flagship program, the Pittsburgh Refugee Youth Summer Enrichment Academy, to partner her outreach program with the organization&#8217;s pre-existing networks and resources.<\/p>\n<p>Werner wants to use her own experiences to connect in particular with children of immigrants and refugees from the Middle East.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs a non-traditional, first-generation college student, female military veteran of war, and with my extensive cultural and linguistic experience with Arabic and the Middle East \u2026 my empathy and experiences will allow me to understand the many difficulties these children face in ways most of my peers cannot,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Werner can also translate materials into Arabic, which will remain part of the program beyond her involvement.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy goal is to encourage and inspire these children, help them discover a vocation in STEM and foster a welcoming community as they integrate into the United States,\u201d said Werner.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>She hopes to grow and adapt the program throughout the rest of her doctoral studies.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; 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STUDENTS TO ENHANCE STEM DIVERSITY THROUGH PODCAST AND OUTREACH &nbsp; by Emily PayneAlyssa LawlerSarah WernerPh.D. candidates Alyssa Lawler and Sarah Werner received the Department of Biological Sciences\u2019 Margaret Carver Award for Enhancing Diversity, Equitability and Inclusion. The $5,000 award can be used for any endeavor that enhances diversity, equitability and inclusion in the Carnegie [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":1322,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1549","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1549"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1549\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1668,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1549\/revisions\/1668"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.mcs.cmu.edu\/bio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}