Outreach in the time of COVID
Inspite of many activities being cancelled this past academic year, Bio-inspired PIRE faculty members and students were able to engage with the community in a variety of outreach activities in addition to the science-at-home resources listed on this website:
Suds & Science is a monthly event offered by UCSD that brings scientists face-to-face with the general public in a neighborhood tavern. Each session kicks off with a short and enlightening presentation after which the floor is open for discussion between the audience and the speaker. Events cover a wide variety of topics that can range from the science of beer to superhero physics to the genius of genomes. This outreach activity is sponsored through the UCSD MRSEC grant with collaboration by PIRE: Bio-inspired Materials and Systems. Pictured here is Professor Jon Pokorski who is speaking on “Making Medicine More Equitable through Materials Science.” Prof. Pokorski is trying to use lessons learned in plastics manufacturing to make access to medicine more equitable throughout the world.
High Rise
As part of the NSF MRSEC CHARM (Center for Hybrid, Active, and Responsive Materials) Professor LaShanda Korley led a weeklong module on tensile testing of polymeric systems utilizing bio-inspired systems as a framework. PIRE-funded REU student, Will Quintana, was one of the mentors for this hybrid virtual/in-person module. Local Delaware high school students learned about why mechanical properties are important, were exposed to concepts of biomimicry, experienced in-person training on stress-strain experiments, learned data analysis, and identified common polymers based on specific mechanical characteristics.
Professor Kathryn Daltorio was a featured speaker on technology in virtual sessions to 4th grade students at Boulevard Elementary School.
Professors Kathryn Daltorio, Hillel Chiel and Roger Quinn – participated (on November 8, 2020) in a Virtual “Show and Tell” on Slugs and Worm Robots at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
Professor Kathryn Daltorio – 2021 – Engaged in E-week volunteering and a Great Lakes Energy Institute (GLEI) promotional video, International Day of Women and Girls in Science STEM outreach video Instagram outreach joint project between the CWRU School of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences.
Professor Roger Quinn – conducted a 2021 E-week robot demonstration via video conferencing for middle school students.
On April 21, 2021, Professor LaShanda Korley was a virtual guest speaker for an Engineering Design elective course at Newton Country Day School, an independent, K-12, all-girls school in Newton, MA. As part of their unit on environmental engineering and sustainability, an overview of sustainability and bioeconomy was given, and examples of sustainable material design and application were offered to the small class of 10-12th grade students. A discussion about the role of mentoring, undergraduate college and major selection, and research opportunities also were a part of the virtual visit.
Professor Korley participated as an alumnae mentor for a two-month (April – May 2021) mentoring circle initiative for graduate students of color piloted by MIT’s Career Advising Professional Development and the Office of Graduate Education. Four sessions (~1.5 h per session) were held on Thursday evenings, focusing on topics, such as strategies for finding individual purpose; building and maintaining personal networks; and mentee-mentor relationships. Additionally, short individual mentoring sessions were held with MIT graduate students in materials science and engineering, chemical engineering, and technology and policy.
Professor Korley also was a panelist for the UD Womxn of Color Discussion Series (March 22, 2021) on Thriving in STEM.
No Small Matter: PME Middle School Molecular Engineering Fair
This event included hands-on demos and learning activities about fundamental concepts in biology, chemistry, and physics to 6th-8th graders from local neighborhood schools as a way to increase access, awareness, and interest in molecular engineering
Based on feedback from the teachers, students enjoyed the day and were still asking questions about the demos they saw even after returning to school
Inspiretist Event
The aim of this event was to Introduce young children to robotics through a fun, hands-on activity. Students assembled batteries, wires, motors, and toothbrushes to create their own (mobile) cleaning robots
This event reached forty 4th graders at Wilbur Elementary School in Bear, Delaware.
Science Enrichment
Graduate Students from the University of Delaware presented a science enrichment event for the 6th – 8th grade girls at Serviam Girls Academy .
Socio-cultural Impact of Polymers
The Bio-inspired REU program at Case Western Reserve University in partnership with the Dittrick Museum of Medical History is creating a group curated exhibit on socio-cultural impact of polymers.
ENLACE Program at UCSD
photo credit: Cortesía Alondra Ramírez Sinhoui
Faculty members and graduate students in the Bio-inspired PIRE program at the University of California San Diego participate in the ENLACE bi-national summer research program. This program aims to encourage the participation of high school students, college students, and researchers/teachers, in research in the sciences and engineering, while promoting cross-border friendships in the Baja California/San Diego region.
Martin Luther King Discovery Day
PIRE faculty and students participated in the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event on January 21, 2019 at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. This free day at the museum attracts families from all over the Cleveland area and allows them to participate in hands-on, science activities throughout the day. The PIRE group focused on bio-inspired activities and demonstrations and engaged an enthusiastic audience. See more photos here.
First Annual Meeting – NSF PIRE Bio-inspired Materials and Systems
PIRE: Bio-inspired Materials and Systems held its first Annual Meeting on June 11-13, 2018 on the campus of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Faculty members, staff members and students from across all of the Bio-inspired PIRE sites attended and took part in discussions on updates to research, education and evaluation, as well as team-building activities.
