Summer 2024 Microgrant Recipients
Research!America, with support by the Rita Allen Foundation, has awarded microgrants of $1,000 to $3,000 to 5 graduate student and postdoc-led science policy groups from across the U.S. to initiate civic engagement and educational outreach activities in their communities. The Summer Microgrant program were funded by the Sloan Foundation.
The Summer 2024 Research!America Microgrant awards focused on creating a dialogue with public officials, local community leaders, and the public around issues of common concern. Grants will support high-impact in-person and virtual programming using methods including roundtable discussions, webinars, podcasts, data visualization projects, and community events. It will also provide opportunities for students interested in starting a local science policy group to receive up to two years of seed funding.
Read a summary report of the Summer 2024 projects.
Howard University – Interfaith Dialogues: Building Science Perspectives
This group’s goal was to create a space for collaborative community partnership and dialogue between researchers and community members to build trust and understanding. They led a discussion forum with participants from Christian faith-based communities and historically marginalized communities to educate the community about the importance of scientific research and increase their participation in scientific research and clinical trials.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore – Groundswell UMES Podcast
The graduate students at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, an historically Black college, released five podcast episodes on environmental and agricultural issues specific to the African American community of Somerset County, Maryland. The group aimed to have the podcast serve as a resource and platform for grassroots community change-making and collaborative advocacy across stakeholders against threats to environmental health and quality of life. Hosted by UMES graduate students, the podcast series features roundtable, topic-centered discussions with Somerset County community leaders, community residents, STEM professionals, members of the academic/scientific community, and local government policymakers. Listen to their podcast.
University of Puerto Rico – Science Inclusive: Bridging Science and Hispanic Communities Through Digital and Social Media
The Asociación de Estudiantes Graduados de Ingeniería Química (AEGIQ) at the University of Puerto Rico aimed to leverage the power of digital and social media as science communication tools. The graduate students created a podcast in Spanish to bridge the gap in scientific knowledge and accessibility for Spanish speakers. Podcast topics include viruses and vaccines, diseases relevant to the Hispanic community in Puerto Rico, lack of science communication in Spanish, and more. Learn more by following them on LinkedIn (@aeiguprm) and Instagram (@ciencialatinx).
University of California, Irvine – Deeply Rooted Podcast
The UCI’s Mapping Health Equity Research Group aimed to better understand the history of health equity in Orange County and the work of local health organizations working to improve the lives of its vulnerable populations including interviews with organization leadership. The students will translate what they learn from this research into a podcast series exposing new medical students to the challenges faced by the local community.
Drexel University – Biomedical Graduate Students for Diversity: Science is for All!
The Biomedical Graduate Students for Diversity at Drexel University held interactive science outreach events during four weekends at the East Falls Farmers’ Market and a local coffee shop. The graduate students aimed to foster enthusiasm for science among the public by providing a platform for community questions about science and offering hands-on science activities. The students themselves honed their science communication skills through interaction with community members. Learn more by checking out their website.