Outreach

All people have a right to benefit from scientific research. For this to happen, scientists must reflect the diversity of the world.

Encouraging young, diverse scientists

My identity as a scientist began in middle school, and researchers have found early childhood is a crucial period for developing a STEM identity. For four years, I volunteered with BASIS (Bay Areas Scientists Inspiring Students). I led monthly science lessons for 5th grade students at diverse schools within and around the Oakland school district. We taught a lesson on DNA replication that included making a human double helix and also isolating DNA from a banana. I was also a BASIS steering committee member, where I would help plan events and recruit new volunteers. 

Fighting misinformation with science

In January 2021, Covid-19 vaccines were becoming available in the US, but vaccine misinformation was spreading. I organized a series of weekly webinars on the science behind Covid-19 vaccines. We discussed the science of the immune system, vaccination, epidemics, and we even changed some minds! Watch the full webinars at onehealth.world. I have strengthened my science communication by writing for the Berkeley Science Review.

mRNA from Covid vaccines does not become DNA

Getting students excited about science

In 2015 I co-directed the Princeton University Physics Competition, which attracted over 100 US high school students and more than 800 globally. In 2016 I co-founded Physics Unlimited, a 501(c)(3) to expand physics education. Recently, Physics Unlimited has launched a summer program to prepare underrepresented students to pursue physics in college. Physics Unlimited also awarded mini-grants of $500 to 6 US high school teachers to improve remote learning during Covid-19.