Veeraraghavan Lab awarded for microscopy outreach efforts

BME assistant professor Rengasayee (Sai) Veeraraghavan and BME grad student Heather Struckman both independently received Strategic Initiative Awards from the Microscopy Society of America (MSA) to support their efforts in conducting microscopy-based outreach for K-12 students.                                                            

Veeraraghavan’s proposal titled "Developing a National Network of STEM Outreach Leaders" which will receive $18,000 in funding over the next 2 years is a collaboration between himself and colleagues from the MSA, Mr. Joshua Silverstein and Dr. Jennifer Wells. This proposal aims to organize an annual multi-day workshop to provide K-12 and undergraduate students a comprehensive and immersive experience of cutting-edge microscopy research. The program will see students gain hands-on experience using state-of-the-art and even prototype microscopes, attend scientific sessions during the Microscopy and Microanalysis conference, and also present their own research at the conference.

Struckman’s proposal, titled "Stoked for Scopes" aims to build a scalable, sustainable, grassroots microscopy-based outreach program in central Ohio, and expanding it nationwide through partnerships with MSA student council members located throughout the country. Struckman has been awarded $20,000 over the next 2 years to achieve a long term goal of partnering with teachers to transition our microscopy-based educational activities from the informal outreach space to the formal K-12 curriculum.