Engaged Graduate Student Grants
Amplifying Role Models as Inspiration for STEM Education (ARISE)
Effectively representing education success stories to diverse students through podcasts
Underrepresented minorities, first-generation scholars and students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds rely on community colleges for post-secondary education. Navigating the potential transition to four-year colleges or graduate study is challenging, particularly for those students who have few examples of successful peers. To create role models for diverse students, Aravind Natarajan founded Science Blender, a podcast that blends the personal story of a scientist with their research.
While the benefits of using role models to inspire success in higher education is known, there are no studies on the most effective presentation of role models through podcasts. This project team aims to fill that gap.
Topics: Access, Equity and Justice
The Team
- Graduate student: Aravind Natarajan, microbiology
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Special committee chair:
Matthew DeLisa, Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
College of Engineering
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Cornell partner:
Kristen Elmore, Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research
College of Human Ecology
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Cornell partner:
Susan Daniel, Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
College of Engineering
- Community partner: SUNY Onondaga Community College
- Community partner: SUNY Broome Community College
- Community partner: Borough of Manhattan Community College
- Community partner: Brookdale Community College