1. An Interdisciplinary Hands-On Module for Science Outreach in Resource-Limited Settings
- Author
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Karishma S. Kaushik, Ashley Kessel, Nalin Ratnayeke, and Vernita Gordon
- Subjects
Science outreach ,Undergraduate research ,ComputingMilieux_COMPUTERSANDEDUCATION ,Biophysics ,Or education ,Engineering ethics ,Limited resources - Abstract
Collaboration across disciplines has played a pivotal role in understanding and advancing science. However, opportunities to gain interdisciplinary research experience continue to remain uncommon. We have developed a hands-on, experimental module that uses an interdisciplinary approach, combining biology experiments and a physics-based analytical model, to address a scientific problem. This module was first implemented at the Hands-on Research in Complex Systems School held at The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy from 29 June - 11 July 2014. In our experience, this module was robust, reproducible, resource-efficient, and cost-effective. These serve as favorable features in taking this module to diverse settings such as undergraduate research manifestos, STEM camps, school programs, and laboratory training workshops. Given the paucity of structured training or education programs that integrate diverse scientific fields, this module can provide valuable, interdisciplinary, research experience in science outreach and education initiatives.
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