Life sciences | STELAR - STEM Learning and Research Center

Data Stories about Disease

Publications

Epidemiology is the study of patterns of health and illness and how these are distributed in a given population. Combining elements of biology and medical science, sociology, environmental science, and statistics, it could be defined as the intersection of public health and data science. Epidemiology is increasingly relevant to modern life. Worldwide travel, human habitations encroaching on wild lands, and climate change are making epidemics ever more frequent. Meanwhile, political leaders in the US make controversial and often unsupported claims about the causes of chronic diseases. Yet

Drones in Alaska Elementary Curriculum

Curricular Materials

This collection of three teacher's manuals, five videos, and one career exploration guide were created with and for Alaska Native communities as part of the Drone Research and Opportunities for Native Elementary Students project, funded by NSF I-TEST Grant Nos. 1850561 (Univ. of Alaska Fairbanks) and 1850556 (Univ. of Alaska Anchorage). The Drones in Alaska base curriculum has three versions, one with lexicon in Sugs'tun, one with lexicon in Lower Tanana Athabascan, and one with lexicon in Lower Koyukon Athabascan. The Teacher's manual for the Drones in Alaska base curriculum is applicable to

If Indigenous Peoples Stand with the Sciences, Will Scientists Stand with Us?

Publications

Indigenous sciences are foundationally based in relationships, reciprocity, and responsibilities. These sciences constitute systems of knowledge developed through distinct perspectives on and practices of knowledge creation and decision-making that not only have the right to be pursued on their own terms but may also be vital in solving critical twenty-first-century challenges. “Science” is often treated as if it were a single entity, free of cultural influences and value-neutral in principle. Western science is often seen as instantiating and equivalent to this idealized, yet problematic

Creating 3D Plant Models Using Tinkercad and Fusion 360

Curricular Materials

This 3D modeling project addresses the disconnect between science, design and technology, and how high school students can benefit from innovative learning experiences in plant and agriculture sciences that integrate these disciplines while gaining interest in and skills for future STEAM careers. Students use the software Tinkercad or Fusion 360 to create 3D models of species of research importance at the Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, MO. Students work in collaborative teams made of self-identified scientists, technophiles, and artists. A STEAM approach is applied in which

Puffins: Exploring how narrative, data science, and artificial intelligence enhance the study of ecology in middle school

2023 - 2025

The study of puffins can provide a fascinating subject area for the integrated learning of data and ecosystems. Once hunted to local extinction, puffins have made a dramatic yet fragile comeback and been re-established to historic nesting islands in mid-coast Maine. This project combines a

Collaborative Research: Expanding Socio-Environmental Science Investigations with Geospatial Technologies in High Schools

Poster

This project expands from a single site into a multi-university, multi-school teacher professional development and curriculum development initiative for geospatial integration into science, social studies, and STEM courses. Student outcomes addressed include spatial thinking and reasoning and STEM college and career interests.

Robot-Mediated Learning: Exploring School-Deployed Collaborative Robots

Poster

Project Overview: Advance robot-mediated learning in schools and investigate how collaborative tele-robots can facilitate optimal learning experiences.

My STEM Story: Scaling STEM Motivation Through Digital Storytelling and Near Peer Relationships

Poster

The My STEM Story project aims to enhance the identity-based motivation of diverse high school students through their engagement with and reflection on the authentic digital stories of diverse near-peer mentors paving their way in a post-secondary STEM pathway.

CASCADE: Engaging Adolescents through Collaboration on Simulated STEM Career Scenarios and Mathematics Activities

Poster

We create and study virtual simulations of peer collaboration in STEM fields, designed for youth in informal learning environments. Practice with the simulations will help teens from underrepresented groups build collaborative skills and career interest in STEM fields, especially those that use mathematics and require strong teamwork.

Supporting Science Inquiry, Interest, and STEM Thinking for Young Dual Language Learners (SISTEM)

Poster

SISTEM’s overarching goals are to (1) Increase DLL PreK families’ perceptions of themselves as partners in their children’s science learning and their engagement, confidence, and skills in supporting their children’s science inquiry; (2)Increase PreK DLL teachers’ perceptions of themselves as partners in their students’ science learning and their skills and self-efficacy in facilitating science inquiry with DLLs; (3) Increase children’s, families’ and teachers’ knowledge of STEM careers; and (4) Improve PreK DLLs’ science, language and literacy skills and their interest and self-confidence

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