The Everyday Wonders of Science

Rural communities are oftentimes neglected when it comes to science communication. This leaves individuals feeling excluded, negatively impacting their relationship with science. The aim of this project is to get more people, especially those in rural communities, to engage with science. For this project, I have created a podcast mini-series highlighting the ways that science impacts our daily lives. This podcast series discusses the scientific method with Dr. Bryan Phillips of the University of Iowa in the episode titled Why the Scientific Method Isn’t Just for Scientists. Water quality is also discussed in the podcast in the episode titled The Importance of Improving Water Quality with Dr. David Cwiertny of the University of Iowa.In order to cater this podcast to rural communities, I have partnered with various public libraries across the state of Iowa to establish content areas of interest and ways to reach their patrons. The podcasts consist of interviews with professionals and faculty at the University of Iowa that have extensive experience in the areas of interest. These short episodes are intended to be easily digestible in order to get people excited about science and how it works without us even knowing.&nbsp

We Grow Together / Crecemos Juntos: A Children’s Book about Mental Health

The rate of children diagnosed with mental health conditions has been rising, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 lockdowns (AAP). These conditions include depression, anxiety, and stress, which can be difficult to notice in children.  Accessible mental health resources can help parents, teachers, friends, and even affected children themselves to recognize the symptoms of mental health disorders. Resources for marginalized communities are especially important; diverse and representative media can be hard to come by.   We Grow Together is a picture book for second through fifth graders with short stories that describe symptoms and coping mechanisms for anxiety, depression, and stress.  It is important to note that children with these conditions can have a wide range of symptoms, but for simplicity the characters in these stories display only a few of the most common signs. The coping mechanisms included in the stories are supported by scientific literature and recommended by mental health professionals (CDC). In the story about anxiety, the character experiences an anxiety attack but is able to gradually relax through deep breathing exercises and listening to music. The character with depression has feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and exhaustion, but with his friend’s encouragement seeks help from a teacher.  School-induced stress causes a third character to feel jittery and unable to relax, so her friend suggests that she take a break to unwind.   The stories involve diverse characters and familiar school settings to help children connect to the characters. The book is also a helpful resource for English language learners as it contains a side-by-side Spanish translation of the text. A list of mental health organizations and resources in Iowa is also provided at the end of the book.  We Grow Together is currently used by guidance counselors at Kirkwood Elementary School in Iowa City

Bringing Genetics to the Public: Personalized Genomic Medicine and You Podcast

The topics of genetic testing and genomic medicine may sound complicated, but they are becoming increasingly relevant in our lives. From direct-to-consumer testing services like 23andMe to clinical tests that help people make medical decisions, genetic tests are becoming more prevalent than ever. Understanding how they are used, how they are interpreted, and how to find available resources is important, but it can be difficult to find information about these topics if you don’t know where to look. The goal of this podcast episode is to describe the world of personalized genomic medicine through interviews with genetic professionals, including a researcher at the Iowa Institute for Human Genetics and a practicing genetic counselor. The Personalized Genomic Medicine and You podcast provides listeners with a foundational background of how genetic testing is utilized in today’s medical landscape. This knowledge can allow patients and consumers alike to make informed testing decisions in both clinical and personal contexts.For those interested in the previous episode of Personalized Genomic Medicine and You, I interviewed Dr. Adela Mansilla, a researcher at the Iowa Institute of Human Genetics, about the basics of personalized genomic medicine and genetic testing. The first episode of this podcast series can be found on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Nh88JOi1rb7FYtgFDolz8?si=cb017328b9164a8f

Medicinal Plants of Iowa: Connecting Science and Tradition

Humans have used plants to treat illnesses since prehistoric times. Though modern Western medicine consists of pills and injections rather than leaves and flowers, the plant-derived compounds in many medications show evidence of this history. This project aims to connect medicinal plants’ traditional and historical uses with the findings of modern scientists. Medicinal Plants of Iowa provides Iowa residents who are interested in herbal remedies with a resource that describes the healing properties of plants commonly found in the state. As well as healing properties, a description of each plant’s appearance and preferred habitat type is provided, allowing users to identify plants more easily. The book uses jargon-free, comprehensible language to describe the outcomes of clinical trials involving medicinal plants and compare these findings to the plants’ uses in traditional medicine. Traditional medicine practices were built through generations of experimentation but are often intertwined with religion and ritual. While this can paint traditional medicine in an unscientific light, it is evident that these practices have inspired contemporary scientific research and have thus contributed to modern medicine as we know it

Science in Quarantine: Experimenting From Home. An Interactive Walkthrough of Science Experiments at Home.

Science in Quarantine: Experimenting from Home is an interactive, take-home style packet composed of different science experiments that can be done with common materials found around the house. The project features a culmination of 11 different science experiments and is geared towards students at the intermediate- and middle-school levels of education. All the experiments have been thoroughly designed and tested in such a way which enables the student to have an easy time navigating which experiment appeals to them, as well as the actual performance of the experiment of interest. Experiments within this project aim to cover multiple aspects of science, including chemistry, biology, physics, and psychology. Past the title page, the experiments begin. They do not have to be done in any order and students can choose which experiment to try based on personal interest or which materials are readily available. As a project which originated during a global pandemic, the goal is to bring science home for students who may have been in the classroom less this academic year.&nbsp

Adaptive Exercise Educational Programming For Senior Citizens

oai:synthesis:id:31447The population of senior citizens in Johnson County continues to grow, which has expanded the gap in health services that fit their unique needs. One critical health service is exercise programming. The numerous benefits of exercise on the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social wellbeing of older adults are well-established, however, barriers to exercise grow with chronic health conditions and reduced mobility that come with age. These barriers increased further with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, as many exercise programming options for seniors were discontinued, leading older adults to become less motivated to stay active.In partnership with health professionals and the Iowa City Senior Center, the free three-week program Spring into Exercise was developed in the Spring of 2022. This program aimed to improve seniors’ scientific understanding of how exercise can mitigate age-related health changes they notice in their daily lives, how to utilize available senior center equipment for adaptive strength training, and how to perform adaptive exercises at home to maintain flexibility. With these three foci, the program hopes to increase senior mobility, fall prevention, and functional independence ​in Johnson County and develop into a sustainable resource for seniors to access moving forward

Solving the Mystery of the "Cyanide Bomb"

A man who\u27s career began as a biochemist and ended as a botanist. A man who under the instruction of a Professor Butt realized what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. This was the story of Professor Jonathan Poulton, Emeritus Faculty at the University of Iowa. He comes from an English family with a religious background and ended up in the sciences when he decided to pursue biochemistry over a dinner with a family friend. He earned his PhD at Oxford University and traveled abroad to conduct research. Poulton eventually landed himself at the University of Iowa on a frigid day but this wasn\u27t enough to deter him! Poulton became a professor of botany and conducted research on how plants stored and released cyanide from their leaves. Later in his career, his research focused on uncovering some of the genes in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome (a small flowering plant). His career was also comprised of several teaching experiences such as but not limited to Principles of Biology and Botany. If you would like to learn more about his outstanding career and unlikely story, read Professor Jonathan Poulton\u27s profile story

STEM at Stead: Bouncy Balls

STEM at Stead consists of three experiment kits aimed at assisting patients in the Stead Family Children’s Hospital with science, engineering, and math education. These experiment kits and discussion materials were created to help fill the gap of information patients were experiencing during their stay at the hospital and consequently their absence from school. The three experiments include building a catapult, creating a bouncy ball, and discovering effective handwashing techniques. The pictures listed with this post show examples from the experiments. The experiments are split into three different levels: beginner, practiced, and advanced scientists. These materials can be found in the interactive power point attached to this document. The experiments were first trialed in the Child/ Adolescent Psychiatry Unit before being introduced to the rest of the units in the children’s hospital. The kits and discussion materials are now available for all pediatric patients (and siblings of patients) inside UIHC. The kits were developed so the teachers within UIHC could run them independently and the hope is for the kits to stay in the units for the years to come

STEM at Stead: Catapults

STEM at Stead consists of three experiment kits aimed at assisting patients in the Stead Family Children’s Hospital with science, engineering, and math education. These experiment kits and discussion materials were created to help fill the gap of information patients were experiencing during their stay at the hospital and consequently their absence from school. The three experiments include building a catapult, creating a bouncy ball, and discovering effective handwashing techniques. The pictures listed with this post show examples from the experiments. The experiments are split into three different levels: beginner, practiced, and advanced scientists. These materials can be found in the interactive power point attached to this document. The experiments were first trialed in the Child/ Adolescent Psychiatry Unit before being introduced to the rest of the units in the children’s hospital. The kits and discussion materials are now available for all pediatric patients (and siblings of patients) inside UIHC. The kits were developed so the teachers within UIHC could run them independently and the hope is for the kits to stay in the units for the years to come

Showcasing the Importance of Pathogens Through Images

The goal of this project is to increase the awareness of viruses that cause human disease using art. Images were drawn digitally using OneNote. The viruses that are displayed as a part of the project include: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Ebola virus, Influenza, Zika virus, Hantavirus, Dengue virus, Bacteriophage that causes Cholera, Rabies virus, Hepatitis A/B/C virus, and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). These viruses all impact humans around the world and cause substantial disease