Title: "Impact: exploring strategies to effectively bring science outreach, science communication, and health to the community."

Host: CSDV PhD Program

Have you ever wondered how to get more kids into science? Have you ever wanted to expand the audience of your science communication events? Do you have a passion to improve public health in an equitable, just, and inclusive manner?

Science and STEAM have advanced and safeguarded society for centuries whether it was the discovery of calculus and the genesis of space travel, the discovery of the electron and the resulting electronic age, or the discovery of penicillin and the development of antibiotics. These discoveries, though, have often come at a cost. For generations, people from underrepresented backgrounds have found themselves excluded or let go from the STEAM pipeline. The discoveries intended to benefit our society, such as the COVID-19 vaccine, are often met with skepticism and fear. And public health remains a divisive issue that leaves countless individuals without affordable care. Thus, the call for outreach, science communication, and community health programs is strong; but it remains imperative to execute those initiatives in equitable, just, and inclusive ways.

In this roundtable, we'll explore approaches to make science and STEAM more accessible to the public, how to encourage more youth, especially from underrepresented backgrounds, to pursue careers in STEAM, and how to bring health and science to our communities in equitable and just ways.

Confirmed speakers:

• Betzaida Maldonado: CU AMC SACNAS Native American Affairs Officer
  • Headshot and bio received

• Kayla Ahr: DMRSEF Director
  • Headshot and bio requested

• Brandy Kramer: Boston P-8 Community Schools Coordinator
  • Headshot and bio requested

• Susan Gershwin: Montview Community Schools Coordinator
  • Headshot and bio requested

• Ashton Gadson-Webb: Aurora Central Library​ Youth Services Library Assistant
  • Headshot and bio requested
• Eric Stokes:  J-KOA's Candidate for Director of the TEKS Mentorship Program