Melissa Ramirez

Lack of diversity represents a loss of talent. The fields of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) badly need the input of talented, diverse people. Hispanics/Latinx are 16% of the population, but make up only 6% of workers in science and engineering occupations (www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/). By 2050, a third of our nation������������������s population will be Hispanic/Latinx as this minority group triples in size and will account for most of the nation������������������s population growth through 2050. To expand interest in STEM fields, as well as diversify the workforce, we must expose students to STEM-focused education, research, and careers. It is vital that these students������������������ interests are sparked and that they are prepared for the completion of challenging and time-demanding STEM courses, majors, and pursuits. CRECER (Cultivating Research Experiences with Community Engaged Roots) seeks to create a sustainable environment for Hispanic/Latinx students to become the next generation of fruitful contributors to the STEM workforce, the economy, and the collective success of our state and nation. Through their enrollment in the program, Hispanic/Latinx high school students from Lee and Chatham Counties will participate in an authentic research experience that spans an intensive residential research experience at NC State, ongoing independent research and engagement in community-based CRECER 4-H Clubs during the academic year, and annual research presentations at local science fairs and a community-based CRECER Festejo de Ciencia y Familia. Although the research project will evolve over the three-year program, the research question will remain focused on understanding how microbial communities contribute to agriculture. Specifically, students will use next-generation DNA sequencing to identify the microbes living in soil from farms in their community and design and carry out experiments to test how these microbes affect plant growth and crop yield. CRECER will use mentors, real-world research, and hands-on learning to educate Hispanic/Latinx high school students and their families about the possibilities of what a STEM career can be. By anchoring the program in the communities being served, CRECER participants will become ambassadors for science and research in their communities, and the reach of the program will go far beyond the students participating in the program.

Modern cell and molecular biology courses focus heavily on two-dimensional visual representations of three-dimensional structures and processes. Although visualizing biology is critically important, emerging evidence suggests that ����������������building��������������� biology using hands-on models results in greater learning gains. The advent of affordable 3D printing technology and proliferation of college and university 3D printing Makerspaces make it possible for instructors to create tactile models that accurately represent molecules, cells, and entire organisms. While many of these models serve as a 3D replacement for passive 2D images, the STEM BUILD research group at NC State University, led by co-PIs Dr. Melissa Ramirez and Dr. Claire Gordy, have developed an alternate strategy in which 3D molecular puzzles (Tactile Teaching Tools, TTTs) are paired with team-based constructivist Guided Inquiry Learning (GIL) activities. Importantly, TTTs are created using Universal Design for Learning guidelines to convert visual information into an accessible form for all students, including those with disabilities. Initial studies of TTT-GIL activities suggest they disproportionately benefit disadvantaged populations. However, widespread implementation of TTTs has been limited by a lack of communication and coordination among stakeholders. To address this need, the proposed Research Coordination Network in Undergraduate Biology Education (RCN-UBE) Incubator aims to remove barriers to implementation of TTTs and foster a unique community of teacher-scholars, undergraduate students, and makers at diverse institutions in the southeast US.

The goal of this event is to create the infrastructure for an inclusive research experience that is open to all students. To achieve this goal, we aim to: 1. Provide mentored research experiences to students who are excluded from most traditional undergraduate research programs. 2. Engage teams of students and faculty in authentic research and open science practices. 3. Create an open research community that connects teams of students and faculty from multiple institutions and facilitates ongoing collaboration and research opportunities for students. 4. Promote a system of mentoring, collaborative data analysis (using accessible web-based tools such as KBase [DOE], Nephele [NIH], and CyVerse [NSF]), and learning that is scalable to other institutions and open for further collaboration.