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Fungi mostly reproduce through spores that are adapted for airborne dispersal; hence, fungal spores (and fungi) are found virtually everywhere. Fungi can be "friends or foes." Our friends include fungi used in the food and biotech industries, fungi that contribute to the cycling of carbon and nutrients, and those involved in the decontamination of polluted soils and/or water, to mention just a few examples. Many species, however, are foes--they are detrimental to plants, animals, and/or humans. Annually, >1.5 million people die due to invasive fungal infections. With the aim of enhancing microbiology literacy and the understanding of microbial concepts, we set up a project for the collection of airborne spores (the principal agent through which human airways are exposed to fungi). Students from five high schools in the Oeiras municipality partnered with us as citizen scientists; they carried out sampling by collecting fungal spores on adhesive stickers. The fungal spores collected by the students were subsequently processed in the schools and our research laboratory. Results obtained by the students themselves revealed a large variety of fungal species capable of growing in a rich medium at 30°C. In the research laboratory, using selective isolation conditions, 40 thermotolerant fungi were isolated, 32 of which were taxonomically identified as aspergilla, mostly from within the Aspergillus fumigatus taxa, yet exhibiting high genetic heterogeneity. The protocols and results were presented to the students, who were made aware of the local dispersal of airborne fungal spores, including some from potentially pathogenic fungi. Through carrying out scientific activities, the students developed both the interest and the self-confidence needed to implement future environmental investigations.

The purpose of this pilot study was to develop and evaluate the feasibility of an experiential teaching and learning initiative that trained undergraduate students studying speech-language pathology to serve as family navigators promoting social communication and language development in infants and toddlers from lower-income backgrounds. Three students completed one semester of training that included multiple interactive approaches to instruction. They subsequently implemented a nine-month, online prevention and outreach program to nine mothers of infants and toddlers to promote social communication and language development. Results of formative assessments were examined and affective outcomes were explored. The intervention was implemented as intended, and the experience was acceptable to both student and parent participants. Uncertainties with regard to feasibility emerged, including the integration of this program into undergraduate programs in communication sciences and disorders as well as variability in parent engagement related to the presence or absence of concerns about their child's development. This empirical inquiry adds to the limited research base on clinical prevention activities that take place beyond the classroom by critically analyzing the implementation and documenting the outcomes of this initiative.

Two graduate students and a faculty member of the Department of Entomology at the University of Kentucky developed and implemented a two-year extension program aimed to train Amish farmers on identification and management of their major agricultural problems. Students conducted periodical visits to the community, inquired about farmers' needs, and identified relevant issues, which were outlined to plan two field days offered in their properties. Amish farmers gained knowledge on diverse topics and were eager to receive handouts and publications. Amish were open to apply new technologies and implement them without main changes in their traditional methods of agriculture. The graduate students acquired skills in developing and implementing outreach extension program. Communication and relationship continued with this community after this program was completed.

The Women Owning Woodlands Network was launched in 2005 as a way to provide collaborative and hands-on peer learning education to women who felt uncomfortable participating in traditional Extension programs. Since its inception the program has grown to provide education and resources for over 300 women. We surveyed these women to identify if the program continues to meet their needs. It is evident that WOWNet has continued to be an important part of OSU FNR's outreach education program and continues to meet the needs of a historically undeserved group of landowners in ways that traditional programming does not.

This research investigates the transmission of Maoqiang opera, focusing on the iconic repertoire "Zhao Meirong Guan Deng" and its role in preserving cultural heritage in the Shandong Peninsula. The objective is to investigate the role and social function of Maoqiang Chinese opera in transmitting cultural heritage through education. The research site encompasses various academic institutions and community-based events in Jiaozhou City, where key informants, including Maoqiang opera practitioners and local authorities, provide insights into the transmission process. Data analysis involves qualitative methods, including interviews, observations, and document analysis, to elucidate the multifaceted role of "Zhao Meirong Guan Deng" in cultural transmission. Methodologically, the research employs a mixed-methods approach to capture the complexity of Maoqiang opera transmission and its societal impact. The research results highlight the enduring legacy of Maoqiang opera and the effectiveness of incorporating traditional repertoire into educational curricula, fostering an appreciation for intangible cultural heritage among diverse audiences. Suggestions for future research include exploring innovative transmission strategies, leveraging digital media, and strengthening collaboration between cultural institutions and educational stakeholders.

Opera is considered a significant part of cultural heritage in many societies. In the South African context, opera has a rich history and has contributed to the development of various art forms. Opera has continued to play a significant role in preserving and promoting cultural diversity in South Africa. Opera production contribute to the economy by creating jobs for artists, musicians, technicians, and other professionals. Additionally, opera events can attract tourism and boost local economies. Public funding for opera may be seen as an investment with economic returns. The purpose of this article is to examine the funding of opera in South Africa against the backdrop of a changing cultural landscape. It aims to investigate whether opera should continue to receive funding or if it should be accepted as a fading cultural form. Employing a qualitative approach, ten participants, including opera company managers and artists, share their perspectives through semi-structured interviews. Colaizzi's phenomenological data analysis method reveals key themes of financial viability, challenges, and opportunities. Findings were presented in themes and supported by quotes from research participants. Opera company managers and artists shared valuable insights into financial viability, challenges, and opportunities. Strategic collaborations, revenue diversification, and the pivotal role of public funding emerged as central themes. The findings shed light on the adaptive measures undertaken by stakeholders in response to the changing cultural and financial climate. The conclusion synthesises the key findings, emphasising the resilience of South African opera in the face of funding challenges. It underscores the importance of balancing financial support and cultural acceptance for sustained vitality. The study contributes to ongoing discussions on the intersection of funding, cultural relevance, and the future of opera in South Africa.

For rural students, finding one's voice and identity on a college campus and developing a sense of belonging are important for engagement and degree persistence. Rural affinity groups can create a feeling of comfort or connection that affirms students' place identity and can lead to a more successful college experience. Additionally, an organized group of students can be a resource for the university to learn more about rural places, cultivate collaborations with rural communities, and develop a positive rural narrative. At California State University, Chico, the North State Student Ambassadors are paid student representatives of their rural communities. They do campus outreach as well as act as college ambassadors in their home communities. Key outcomes so far have been increased pride in the students' rural identities and a greater visibility on campus for rural issues.

The Chinese Luoyang Quju Opera holds significant cultural importance in Henan Province. Despite its historical richness, this art form confronts challenges amidst modernization and evolving entertainment preferences. This study investigates literacy strategies for preserving and contemporaneously developing the Chinese Luoyang Quju Opera. The research in Luoyang engages performers, educators, and scholars through qualitative methods, such as interviews, field observations, and archival research. The findings underscore the necessity for systematic documentation, scientific preservation techniques, educational integration, governmental backing, and digital platform utilization to sustain this opera. Emphasizing a comprehensive approach to cultural conservation, blending traditional and contemporary methodologies to captivate new generations, the study recommends digital experience centers, social media outreach, curriculum inclusion, community initiatives, and cultural tourism programs. These strategies aim to uphold the enduring legacy of Luoyang Quju Opera in contemporary society.

In this article we offer a conceptual and practical contribution to the field of STEM education by investigating the concepts educators may include in Quantum Technologies (QT) outreach activities. We embed our approach in the discipline-culture (DC) framework, in which we consider the cultural nuances of QT as an important factor which must not be ignored in education efforts. To this end, a survey study by the pilot project Quantum Technologies Education For Everyone (QuTE4E), investigating key concepts for QT outreach, was conducted between December 2021 and June 2022. Here we present the results of the study, analysed through the DC framework, and consider the implications for designing QT outreach activities. The data hints at the perceived value of highlighting core concepts of Quantum Mechanics (QM), while also raising the question of whether QT sits as a discipline of Physics, Computer Science, or elsewhere. This calls for a reordering of the primacy of certain concepts (such as qubit and spin) for outreach purposes, where core concepts in QM might not be core concepts in QT, and vice versa. The results of this study provide valuable insights for those interested in learning more about this rapidly-evolving field.

Community outreach and service-learning are common components of medical and health profession programs. Outreach programs can provide diverse service-learning opportunities for students to work collaboratively with their communities. Many educational accrediting bodies require service-learning activities for students. The discipline of anatomy is uniquely suited for outreach as it engages students with the community and provides relevant, health-related educational materials and information. Anatomy is often a general interest to many and can aid in the promotion of students pursuing health professions careers. The objective of this work is to describe three unique anatomical outreach programs that integrate components of community service, service-learning, and/or pathway program initiatives in innovative ways. These programs are presented to inspire and/or be adapted in other medical or health professions programs. Variety in these programs range from duration, target audience age, resource and financial requirements, and necessary collaborations. The authors provide tips for success and potential pitfalls to consider. These three examples serve as successful, contemporary, and diverse approaches to anatomical outreach that can be implemented into medical or health professions education programs.

This current study measured the impact of a one-time semester-long course-based civic engagement activity on student learning and participant impact, particularly participants' willingness to engage in community dialogue and promote awareness of social justice issues within their communities. The service-learning project involved on-campus and online students from three criminal justice courses and a hybrid format event titled "Finding Common Ground: Social Justice Issues Surrounding Mental Health & Mental Illness & Disorders" at a Midwestern teaching institution. The two-hour event included roundtable discussions to promote open dialogue about mental health and mental health illness and disorders. Learning and self-impact were measured via self-constructed questions and the Civic Engagement Short Scale Plus (CES[superscript 2+]). Results indicated increased endorsement for community engagement and positive qualitative feedback on self-empowerment. The findings provide insights into the potential benefits of service-learning activities, such as mental health community roundtables, for fostering community dialogue, personal growth, and social justice activism. The insights gained from the current study can inform future planning and enhancement of civic engagement initiatives while also contributing to developing community-based education and outreach strategies.

This study aimed to develop a deeper understanding of the longterm impacts of place-rich community-based learning on university students. This study was informed by transformative learning theory, which recognizes how learning experiences that expand the learner's worldview help develop autonomous thinking. A mixed-methods approach was used to explore the perspectives of graduates who participated in immersive community-based learning (CBL) experiences. Graduates from two programs at the University of Prince Edward Island between 2004 and 2017 completed the Civic-Minded Professional scale online. A subset of respondents were invited to participate in interviews. Students' experiences of dissonance, transformational learning moments, reflection, and civic engagement were also assessed. Key findings include participants' expanded and deeper appreciation for cross-cultural awareness, their more deliberate engagement with volunteer opportunities, and their emergence as advocates for the communities they worked with. Findings will be used to improve, diversify, and develop new CBL experiences for university students.

Genome Sciences Education Outreach (GSEO) has developed innovative programs that bring leading-edge science to teachers and students in K-12 schools. Disseminating educational materials equitably and accessibly to teacher stakeholders to maximize reach and impact is challenging for many programs. Traditionally, programs connect materials with teachers through local networks, in-person professional development sessions, and at regional and national conference presentations. The need for curricular changes in 2020 spurred the proliferation of online and digital educational materials and professional development opportunities. These digital materials--now available to a worldwide audience--require a shift in dissemination strategy to enhance the potential reach of these materials both locally and nationally. This manuscript reports a case study of a dissemination approach, to create a collaboration between GSEO and CommLead (the communications master's program at the University of Washington) to promote education materials developed by the publicly-funded Genes, Environment and Me Network (GEMNet) program. This manuscript describes the development and the ad hoc implementation and evaluation of a social media campaign to expand the reach of the GEMNet curricula. With a targeted social media campaign on Facebook, GSEO was able to dramatically and affordably increase the reach of the GEMNet curricula and expand the potential impact and utilization of educational materials to a nationwide teacher audience, highlighting the potential for other similar collaborations to efficiently enhance the dissemination strategy of other education outreach programs.

DesignYOU! Code Camp is a grant-funded summer outreach camp designed to increase interest in coding and STEM careers among middle school students (6th - 8th graders) through an innovative, immersive summer camp experience. To make the concepts of coding more palpable, researchers incorporated fashion and retail allowing students to learn through practical applications of the concepts taught. This paper outlines the planning, logistics, and lessons learned from the second iteration of the DesignYOU! Code Camp. Overall, both parents and students expressed satisfaction with the camp while student interest in coding increased. Successes and challenges from implementing the DesignYOU! Code Camp are discussed.

Bringing Research into the Classroom (BRIC) engaged rural K-12 science teachers in sustained, mentored science research. BRIC's goal was to equip teachers with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to provide high-quality biomedical research opportunities for K-12 students and teachers. Programmatic elements included authentic, place-based, microbiology outreach in K-12 classrooms, summer teacher research academies focused on content knowledge and research, and a capstone symposium. Over 9,000 Montana students collected and tested environmental samples to isolate new-to-science bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria). University scientists, faculty, and students mentored K-12 teachers and students during classroom outreach visits and teacher research academies. BRIC aimed to increase teacher and student bacteriophage content knowledge and research skills through meaningful, mentored research projects. BRIC researchers hypothesized greater program impacts from intensive teacher professional development combined with classroom outreach, compared to classroom outreach visits alone. Program evaluation compared two cohorts of teachers, which each received all programmatic elements through a four-year, staggered rollout. Teachers and students were assessed for gains in knowledge, skills, and science attitudes. A subset of our evaluation instruments and outcomes, program dissemination, lessons learned, and recommendations for replicating the BRIC model are discussed.

Background: The gender gap in engineering presents a critical barrier to achieving a diverse and innovative engineering workforce. This gap is influenced by gender stereotypes, socialization processes, masculine culture, and insufficient early experiences with engineering. These contribute to diminished STEM self-concept, interest, and participation among women. Purpose/Hypothesis: This study assessed an engineering outreach program's impact on children's understanding of and interest in engineering and beliefs about who can be an engineer. It compared whether discussions of gender bias differentially influenced these outcomes for girls and boys. Design/Method: The study was a short-term sequential quasi-experimental design with boys and girls in grades 4-5. Six classroom groups attended a half-day engineering field trip and were randomly assigned to two conditions: Gender Presentation or No Gender Presentation. Pre- and post-program surveys measured changes in understanding of and interest in engineering and beliefs about who can be an engineer. Results: All children, regardless of gender or condition, had higher understanding of and interest in engineering after the program, but also demonstrated a bias in selecting men over women as engineers. Participants reported that both girls and boys like and are good at engineering and these ratings increased from the pre-program to the post-program survey. Conclusion: This research affirms the effectiveness of immersive and inclusive programming in enhancing children's understanding of and interest in engineering. No substantial gender-specific differences emerged regarding the impact of discussions on gender biases. The program underscores the value of early inclusive educational interventions in fostering equitable interest in engineering among young students.

Anatomy outreach is a well-documented practice by many academic institutions, defined here as when anatomy-related services are provided to external communities. However, most of the current literature on this topic is largely descriptive, focusing on the 'what' of anatomy-related outreach, rather than the generalizable 'why' or 'how'. There exists no shared conceptual model of what anatomy outreach tries to achieve from the perspective of 'outreachers', and how anatomists support these goals. Thus, this study aimed to explore the comprehension of anatomy outreach as a social phenomenon in the anatomy education community. This qualitative research used constructivist grounded theory to explore the perspectives of anatomists with experience facilitating anatomy outreach. A total of 18 participants completed semi-structured interviews. Analysis resulted in the construction of nine broad categories of themes relating to anatomy outreach: "types of outreach," "specific activities," "goals of outreach," "subject benefit (why anatomy?)," "enablers," "challenges," "appraisal," "motivators/drivers," and "community perspectives from the immediate anatomy community and wider field" (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and health professions education (HPE)). These results were constructed into a conceptual model of anatomy outreach. The findings suggest that anatomists view the subject matter as a socially connecting experience that can engage a wide variety of individuals. The multimodal nature of anatomy, combined with teaching expertise, lends well to productive outreach. Most 'outreachers' do not have a strong understanding of the impact of their activities, however, and operate on a level of optimism that activities will support diversity, belonging, and health/anatomical literacy.

Despite attempts to diversify healthcare workplaces and education, racial and ethnic minorities (REM) remain underrepresented in these fields. This study investigated changes in high school students' health science interest following a single exposure, hands-on anatomy laboratory visit. One hundred and eighty-eight high school students participated in a single day, one-hour visit to a human anatomy laboratory on a university campus. Participants engaged in hands-on activities centered around both human and animal specimens led by university mentors. Using a modified Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics--Career Interest Survey (STEM-CIS) questionnaire, health science STEM interest was calculated before and after the visits and compared using a paired t-test ([alpha] = 0.05). A 2 × 2 ANOVA ([alpha] = 0.05) was run on pre-to-post-visit interest score differences with factors of Race (White/REM) and Gender (Male/Female) to determine if race/ethnicity and/or gender moderated the gains observed. Overall, health science STEM interest increased significantly from pre- to post-visit (p < 0.001), and these gains were greater in REM students (p < 0.05) but did not differ as a function of gender. These findings indicate that a single visit to an anatomy laboratory with hands-on activities can be used as a tool to engage high school aged students in STEM and may be particularly beneficial for racial/ethnic minority students, potentially influencing health science STEM interest.

This paper presents a novel approach to teaching how vaccines work in the body, and introduces a community outreach project and activity we piloted with youth. Our Nuestra Ciencia program addresses scientific misconceptions among bilingual elementary school children in engaging and scientifically accurate ways. Utilizing analogies and storytelling, one of our lessons simplifies the complex microbiology concept of the mechanism of action of vaccines. We underscore the issue with conveying this concept through accurate visuals, supported by our research that revealed that less than 1% of cartoons available online accurately depict how vaccines work. The analogy we developed and showcase in this paper employs relatable characters: the virus as a robber, the immune system as a superhero, and the vaccine as a "most wanted" poster. The activities include a skit and storyboard session, enabling students to act out the analogy and create their own imaginative scenarios. By targeting young learners, this lesson aims to prevent long-standing misconceptions and empower future generations to make informed decisions about vaccination. Nuestra Ciencia offers a promising model for combating vaccine hesitancy and promoting public health through effective science communication.

This article is concerned with an institutional initiative designed to encourage the development of an outreach culture which can support fairer, more equal, access to higher education (HE) in India. The initiative constituted the final impact phase of a 5-year Fair Chance Foundation (FCF) research project (2017-2022) which explored gendered pathways to fair access to HE in the northern Indian state of Haryana. We present the methodology used to prepare a toolkit, named an Outreach Activity Resource (OAR), which enabled staff in government colleges in Haryana to plan and conduct pilot 'taster days'. The article provides an assessment of the outcome of these events. It argues that a practitioner as researcher methodology and a collaborative 'bottom up' research approach provide the basis for the development of contextually appropriate outreach activities to support fairer, more equal, access to higher education (HE). We argue that the adoption of 'top down' initiatives, in very different economic, social and cultural contexts to the those where they were originated, may fail to address the way in which the local 'problem' presents itself and may hinder the development of a contextually informed outreach culture which will support fairer, more equal access to HE. In contrast, initiatives such as the one presented here can contribute essential locally informed expertise, built on contextually informed research, to national and international policy making in relation to widening access to HE in an era in which massification is extending across the globe.

Postgraduate engagement in delivering outreach activities is more commonplace than it once was. However, the impact on postgraduate students (typically studying for a Ph.D. degree) of participating in the delivery of these outreach activities has rarely, if ever, been recorded. The Bristol ChemLabS Outreach program has been running for ca. 17 years, and in that time, many postgraduate students have been involved (approximately 500), with around 250 typically for up to 3 years. We sought to investigate the impact of outreach engagement on postgraduate alumni who were involved in the program for over 3 years (32) and how the experiences and training of the outreach program had impacted on their careers postgraduation. Thirty of the 32 postgraduates engaged and ~70% reported that their outreach experience had influenced their decision making on future careers. Many respondents reported that the skills and experiences gained through outreach participation had contributed to success in applying for and interviewing at their future employers. All respondents reported that outreach had helped them to develop key skills that were valued in the workplace, specifically, communication, teamwork, organizational skills, time planning, event planning, and event management. Rather than a pleasant distraction or an opportunity to supplement income, all participants noted that they felt there were many additional benefits and that this was time well spent. Outreach should not be viewed as a distraction to science research but rather an important enhancement to it provided that the program is well constructed and seeks to develop those delivering the outreach activities.

Young people growing up in England from a poorer background are less likely to progress into higher education compared to their better off counterparts. This is especially true with respect to more selective universities. This study used government administrative data to gauge the effectiveness of the 'Realising Opportunities' programme, which provides a package of support to prospective university applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds to facilitate their progression to more selective universities. Data was gathered concerning 769 16 to 18-year-old students who took part in the programme--which is delivered by a consortium of selective universities--between 2015 and 2017. This data revealed participants' personal characteristics (e.g., gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status), school attainment and eventual university destination (or lack thereof). Additionally, national administrative data was sourced from the Department for Education's National Pupil Database and the Higher Education Statistics Agency for the entire cohort of state school pupils in England who turned 16 in the 2014-2015 academic year. This national data was used to generate a statistical model that could predict the likelihood of a young person in England progressing to a selective university based on their school attainment and other personal characteristics. Data concerning the programme participants was fed through the model and it was observed that the number of participants who had in fact progressed to selective universities greatly exceeded that predicted. Participation in the Realising Opportunities programme therefore appeared to be positively associated with an increased likelihood of progression to a selective university.

Objective: Crack cocaine use has increased rapidly throughout Mexico, along with rising HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among vulnerable groups. The Tirando Esquina: Interviniendo Muros de Salud (TE:IMS) project uses projection-mapping technology and is the first of its kind to reach and provide health education at an individual and community level to at-risk crack smoking populations in Mexico City. Setting: This intervention project took place in Mexico City. Design: A single-arm design was utilised. Method: The TE:IMS intervention used projection mapping, a community-based art form wherein 3-dimensional (3-D) images, videos and graphics are projected onto buildings in the community. A total of nine projection mapping episodes were projected and health promoters engaged individuals on the street to reinforce messaging and distribute safer crack kits. A sample of persons who use crack (n = 58) were recruited prior to the intervention to complete pretest-posttest evaluation questionnaires. Results: Findings provide evidence of initial effectiveness. Decreases pre- to posttest were found in weekly crack use (p < 0.05), sharing of paraphernalia (p = 0.002) and use of cans as pipes (p = 0.008), while increases were observed in the usage of Pyrex pipes (p = 0.002). While quantitative HIV knowledge assessments did not increase significantly, qualitative data suggest the intervention made a substantial impact on perceptions and knowledge of HIV among those who interacted with the health promoters and saw the projections. Conclusions: TE: IMS was successful in providing health education and harm reduction strategies at a community level to at-risk crack smoking populations in Mexico City. These findings provide evidence for the initial effectiveness of innovative education and harm reduction efforts in this population.

In the past five years, Delta State University's academic library has made significant efforts to develop sustainable outreach programs that support the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer+) community. This program has increased the library's visibility and enhanced its image among its students, faculty, and staff. The article describes the outreach program's effort, and the collected data will provide a framework for others interested in designing and hosting such programs, including adaptability during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This article examines the implementation, participation rates, and potential determinants of participation in the digital addiction prevention program "ready4life." A two-arm cluster-randomized trial recruited German vocational students via class-based strategies. Intervention group received 16 weeks of in-app coaching; the control group received health behavior information, with coaching offered after 12 months. Potential determinants of participation were analyzed based on class and individual characteristics. Out of 525 contacted schools, 35 participated, enrolling 376 classes. Implementation during the pandemic required flexible adjustments, with 49.7% of introductions conducted in person, 43.1% digitally via online streaming, and 7.2% received a video link via email. Despite challenges, 72.3% of the vocational students downloaded the app, and 46.7% gave informed consent. Participation rates were highest among (associate) professionals, vocational grammar school classes, classes introduced by females, younger individuals, members of the project team, and classes introduced face-to-face. Female gender, lower social competencies, lifetime cannabis use, higher problematic internet use, and higher perceived stress were associated with higher individual participation. The study highlights the importance of proactive outreach and personalized interventions for addiction prevention programs in vocational schools. While reached students aligned with the aims of the app, tailored recruitment strategies could enhance engagement among under-represented groups.

This study suggests the need for best practices, specialized tools and standards, and targeted outreach related to Web-based content cited in theses. It analyzes citation practices in a corpus of master's theses in performance studies published at Texas A&M University from 2012 to 2020. Finding that only a slim majority of Web-based material cited in the theses remains fully functional within a decade of citation, this study confirms that "Web at large" content poses the greatest risk of irretrievable loss. Additionally, it considers actions by student authors that make theses vulnerable to evidentiary loss or change. A deeper understanding of the fragility of Web-based content and the potential for mitigation can inform needed interventions by librarians and other partners in graduate research.

Migrant students tend to underperform in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects and are less likely to pursue higher education in STEM when compared with their nonmigrant peers. Given the substantial increase in migration, this disparity has been a central concern in science education in many European countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an innovative science outreach program that brings together migrant students and STEM professionals with the same linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The program consists of one-off workshops that follow an inquiry-based approach and include hands-on activities and science communication in the students' heritage language. Using surveys with adapted scales and open-ended questions, we applied a randomized block design with waitlist control groups and repeated measures. Eighty-three Portuguese-speaking migrant students aged 6-17 years participated in the workshops in Germany and the United Kingdom. Results indicate that both the students and STEM professionals evaluated the program positively and that students who participated in the workshops tended to demonstrate an increase in their attainment value for science and an increase in their self-concept of ability for the heritage language 4 weeks after the intervention when compared with students in the control condition. These effects were particularly pronounced for students with low prior motivation to study science or speak the heritage language. Our results thus show that it is possible to foster migrant students' attainment value for science and increase their self-concept of ability regarding the heritage language through a brief science outreach intervention.

Outreach science labs aim to promote students' interest. Previous research has often suggested that performing experiments in such labs has a positive effect on their interest. However, these studies often lack a comparison to the effects of performing them at school. This research gap was addressed in the present study. The sample consisted of 402 upper-secondary level students (age: M = 16.53 years, SD = 0.80 years) who performed three experiments on the topic of enzymology either in an outreach science lab (n = 203) or at school (n = 199). Contrary to the assumption, experimentation at the outreach science lab did not outperform experimentation at school in terms of students' psychological state of interest in the comparison to the school setting. Surprisingly, differences in the value-related component of the psychological state of interest were even found in favor of the school treatment.

This article applies cultural translation (Kramsch and Hua 2020) and geohistorical frameworks (Braudel 1949; Scott 2018) to analyze the interplay between linguistic, cultural, physical, and ideological proximities and distances in immigrant advocacy and outreach efforts. Data are taken from 'small stories' (Georgakopoulou 2010, 2015) shared by directors of immigrant-serving organizations in a small metropolitan area in the USA during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. These stories demonstrate directors' situated perspectives on new and changing demands for communicating information in the face of persistent challenges associated with the digital divide, reaching clients with limited literacy and who speak indigenous languages of Central America and Africa, and cultivating trust among staff and between staff and clients around COVID-19 mitigation and relief. Findings trace how local, state, and national policies were taken up by individual participants and the communities they serve and bring to light the value of applied linguistics research in amplifying the complexities of language access in times of crisis as well as community resilience that are often hiding in plain sight.

Reading nutrition facts labels is a competency for which training is given in several nutrition education programs, especially in obesity outreach workshops. The Top Trumps-style card game is commonly used in obesity prevention educational programs to engage participants in reading nutrition facts labels; however, the success of TV cooking shows among children and teenagers has not been explored for educational purposes. This paper is a descriptive study of developing a gamified activity as part of the one-time outreach workshop facilitated by the Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center (OCRC) in Brazil. By playing the MestreChef Nutritional (MCN) game, participants followed similar rules as the corresponding TV cooking show. They were challenged to decide to select food items, calculate dietary food intake, and prepare a recipe to visualize the proportion of macronutrients contained in daily diets. The analysis of the nutritional dietary table completed by participants revealed to be a rich source of information, and we identified in our cohort that selecting an adequate number of food items and making healthy food choices was not concerning. However, their lack of competency in performing mathematical reasoning, particularly in calculating serving sizes and converting grams of macronutrients into calories, was evident. Moreover, facilitators of the workshops agreed that the MCN game presents definitively more didactic effectiveness and playability than the Foods Top Trumps, a former game used in the outreach workshops. The MCN game nourishes the engagement of the participants in learning nutrition-related concepts and may be an efficient didactic resource to improve nutrition knowledge in outreach activities when an alternative method is required to stimulate reading nutrition facts labels.

Neuroeducation is characterized as a subarea of neuroscience that involves comprehending the teaching and learning processes and relating them to neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neuropsychology. The inclusion of some aspects of the neuroscience of learning in teachers' and students' formation, applying them in teaching-learning environments, contributes to the quality of education and impacts students' quality of life and health. Thus, the POPNEURO outreach program performs interventions with students and teachers of low-income schools to disseminate neuroscience concepts, relating them to the students' daily lives. This study reports the impact of these actions, assessed 1 yr after their conclusion. The results showed that the long-term impact of the activities carried out is, in general, positive. Even 1 yr after the activities end, students demonstrate knowledge about the neuroscience themes and satisfaction with participating.

Rural students graduate from high school at higher rates but go to college at lower rate than their urban and suburban peers. To take on the educational attainment challenge for rural students, we need to know more about postsecondary encouragement programs. This study examined a pilot postsecondary encouragement program in 11 rural high schools with two questions: How do high school counselors support students' plans for life after high school through a land-grant outreach program? How is a university outreach program utilized in these schools? This qualitative case study used 17 individual interviews with school counselors and county extension agents. According to school counselors, the postsecondary encouragement program increased financial aid applications and student interest in college going. County extension agents were a trusted bridge between the program and the local high schools. Tracking student milestones helped school counselors serve all students, and program experts provided workshops for students and parents. Campus visits helped students visualize themselves as college students, yet financial concerns dominated the students' college choices.

The Native American Astronomy Outreach Program (NAAOP) at Lowell Observatory is an in-class STEM enrichment program that pairs astronomers with 4th-8th grade teachers at Native-serving schools in northern Arizona. The astronomer works with the teacher to present hands-on astronomy activities to their class with the goal of getting students excited about STEM and STEM careers. Over three school years (2018-2021), a special collaboration with teachers at the Navajo Nation's Kayenta Unified School District was used to develop and implement curriculum units for each grade level with potential for a high impact on students. The curriculum used Project Based Learning to better enable students to see themselves as scientists, and it included cultural and local connections related to the science content to encourage students to see science as relevant to themselves. Although impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, student surveys suggest that these curriculum units along with the other components of the program had a positive impact on students' interest in STEM.

Diverse backgrounds, viewpoints and experiences in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are vital for innovation and creativity in STEM; and yet, racially minoritized groups, such as African Americans and Hispanics, remain underrepresented in the STEM K-12 and career pipeline. Studies show that exposure and access to STEM experiences in the early years are especially effective for increasing interest in STEM careers and intentions to major in STEM. However, these opportunities are often unavailable and inaccessible to underrepresented racialized minority students, particularly those from majority minority schools in low income communities. We describe a model for accessible and inclusive exposure to STEM experiences, enabled by a partnership between elementary schools from low income under resourced, predominantly racialized minority K-5 schools in North St. Louis County, Missouri, and scientists at a non-profit plant science research institution, to provide STEM activities for all students over the course of a single day. The goal was to stimulate students' interest in STEM and related careers, and enrich students and teachers' STEM knowledge. Five "STEM Days" were held at four elementary schools from 2017 to 2019. Feedback from teachers and students revealed positive outcomes, including increased excitement and knowledge gains. Students showed increased STEM interest, and teachers indicated that the new approaches to classroom STEM instruction, despite the brief exposure, were beneficial. Unexpectedly, participating scientists also noted numerous benefits. We share lessons learned and suggest recommendations for practitioners in STEM.

Decades of research suggests that supportive faculty communication improves student retention and progression; however, most communication interventions occurred at on-site universities and were implemented briefly in one or several courses. In this article, we describe the outcomes of a consistent, personalized student outreach program implemented in every course and for students' entire tenure at a fully online university. In 2019, Western Governors University launched a student support program called Learner-Centered Faculty (LCF)--a paradigm that focuses on just-in-time, personalized, student-centered faculty support at scale. We evaluated the impact of LCF on student retention and course completion rates and found that LCF-based intervention improved retention and course completion generally and was particularly beneficial for certain groups of students. In the future, we will examine the mechanisms underlying LCF's success.

Local volunteer opportunities hold the potential for university students to develop as leaders and engaged members of the academic community, but students taking prescribed (sometimes termed developmental education) courses may be overlooked as candidates for these kinds of opportunities. Taking an anti-deficit stance, university faculty may promote student success by recruiting students from prescribed courses to participate in carefully-designed volunteer programs. In this qualitative case study, I explored the perceptions of growth in the areas of academic engagement and leadership and the motivation to participate in future community volunteer service in student volunteers who had previously been enrolled in prescribed reading courses. Three such university student volunteers reflected on their experience as leaders in a short-term academic outreach program for high school students. In open-ended survey and interview responses, the university volunteers described their development of specific skills as well as changes in self-perception. Their responses indicated that they perceived the volunteer experience as effectual in all the investigated areas. Notably, they reported that serving as role models for youth encouraged specific academic habits. The study includes descriptions of the academic outreach program with supporting theory for its design because the context of the volunteer service cannot be separated from the findings. This study is a unique contribution to student success literature--there is no previous model linking students from prescribed courses with community volunteer opportunities.

Out-of-school time (OST) programs that work with historically marginalized youth, employ staff that match the demographics of participants, and are well connected to mental health resources are uniquely positioned to support participants to recognize the risks and assets linked to their mental health and well-being. Such programs can simultaneously address career readiness, exposing youth to mental health professionals and career pathways and thereby nurturing the future bilingual-bicultural mental health workforce. This article evaluates the Latino Service Providers (LSP) Youth Promotor Internship program, which was launched in response to the steady increase of the Latinx population in Sonoma County and an attendant concern for ongoing mental health disparities.

Lack of awareness about the interconnections between Science, Technology, and Society and students' dislike of studying science have led to many environmental and social problems. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, students experienced difficulties accessing educational resources and demanded new programs to support their academic science experiences. This study designed a science outreach program, a video project competition using a science, technology, and society (STS) learning approach and explored its effects on 13 randomly selected students (Grades 4-11). This video project employed three foundational theories--identity formation, attitudes toward science, and growth mindset--to increase students' affinities in science and assess the program's effects. Pre-and post-survey data showed that the video project using the STS approach did not have statistically meaningful effects on the participants who had high achievement in STEM areas. However, their interviews suggested that this study helped to sustain and increase their affinities and science learning even during the Pandemic by involving them in the learning process, understanding Science and Technology in our society, and making decisions for society's future.

Science literacy has many personal and societal benefits that allows for better informed decision-making. Although the importance of science literacy is recognized globally, there are many challenges associated with its promotion. Scientists are more frequently engaging with nonscientific audiences through public outreach activities and with increasing support from institutions and professional societies. This is especially true regarding microbiologists and other related professionals since the start of the global 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic heightened the need to convey novel and rapidly evolving scientific information to lay audiences. The means by which professionals engage with these audiences affect the efficacy of the relay of scientific information. One method of engagement is the "ambassador approach," which aims to establish dialogue among different groups of people and scientists. In this perspective article, we discuss this approach, highlighting activities for the promotion of science literacy organized by the American Society for Microbiology Ambassador Program and similar programs of other scientific societies. We discuss the benefits and challenges of implementing an ambassador approach, propose potential improvements that could be made to existing programs promoting science literacy, and ultimately advocate for increased implementation of science ambassador programs. [This article was written on behalf of the Young Leaders Circle of the American Society for Microbiology.]

Science outreach programs that enable real-time interactions between scientists and school-aged children are known to positively impact learning gains and students' perceptions of scientists. To expand K-12 outreach by scientists, it is important to build structured outreach programs which offer scientists well-defined opportunities, while providing school students regular and diverse interactions. We describe Talk To A Scientist, a science outreach platform in India, where scientists use a webinar-based approach to share their research with K-12 students (6 to 16 years). Running weekly for nearly 3 years, Talk To A Scientist has hosted over 100 live interactions, with a wide reach to participants across the country. Here, we outline the framework used to build Talk To A Scientist and discuss key gains, considerations, and challenges in the development of the program. We also suggest potential adaptations with which this framework can serve as a guideline for the implementation of similar K-12 outreach programs across diverse country- and context-specific settings.