The CSEO works closely with both our school district and multiple university faculty, staff, and student partners for mutual benefit. Vanderbilt professor of cell and developmental biology, Dr. Marija Zanic, partnered with the CSEO to create a Broader Impact plan for her submitted NSF grant “Elucidating how microtubule-microtubule interactions drive the dynamic reorganization of the microtubule cytoskeleton (NSF-ID)”. With the support of this funded grant, a new graduate level course was created and has now been taught for four years, “Cell Biology: Training in Scientific Outreach” (CBIO- GS8332). Several members of the CSEO team worked with Dr. Zanic and co-instructor, Dr. Jason MacGurn, to design and implement this course. CSEO team members teach several lectures in this course about pedagogy, outreach initiatives, and understanding standards. Students in this course then visit the Day of Discovery middle school program to observe hands-on lessons and instruction before then designing their own hands-on lessons that they have the option to test with the Day of Discovery students and then implement in an MNPS middle school. In this example, there is a benefit to the university in the Broader Impact being a part of a funded grant and to the graduate students who get unique exposure and experience with education and outreach. Reciprocally, middle school students and their teachers benefit from the addition of novel, hands-on instructional activities as well as exposure to scientists that benefit their core curriculum and reinforcing course learning standards.

The School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt (SSMV) is collaborating with researchers from Vanderbilt University as part of a Future Manufacturing Research Grant (FMRG) to provide high school students with hands-on experience in digital fabrication, biomanufacturing, and extracellular vesicle biological research.

At the classroom level, SSMV student cohorts design and manufacture microfluidic devices—small-scale lab-on-a-chip systems used in biomedical applications. Bridging engineering and biotechnology, students learn computer-aided design (CAD) and participate in resin 3D printing and microfluidic device fabrication. By utilizing vat photopolymerization (VPP) 3D printing, students learn how digital fabrication can make microfluidics more accessible and scalable for research and industry. In addition, two students annually are matched with investigators through this grant to do a year-long, immersive research internship in a campus laboratory. These students complete a small research project that they present at a summer symposium and additionally submit their research for publication and consideration in the most prestigious high school STEM competition, the Regeneron Science Talent Search.

This collaboration is part of a broader Education and Workforce Development Plan, which seeks to equip students with technical skills and real-world STEM experiences, preparing them for future careers in biotech, bioengineering, and digital manufacturing.

The Center for Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology (CREATe) at Vanderbilt University’s School of Engineering has partnered with CSEO programs, including the SSMV, ISR, DoD, and SHIRE, to share their excitement for STEM and ignite students’ curiosity. Their commitment to science outreach and educating the public is extraordinary and the CSEO is happy to support their work.

CREATe has created methods to engage with them and their science. Their Outreach Website includes a playlist of virtual outreach videos, discussion questions for students, and an invitation to meet with the scientists and engineers behind this research. 

We encourage all teachers and community partners to find ways to incorporate these videos and potential hangouts into their classrooms.