ETHOS: Building STEM Awareness Through Ethical Communication in Neuroscience
This summer, CSME partnered with LUC neuroscience faculty members Dr. Bill Rochlin and Dr. Elizabeth Wakefield to support the "Ethos Project" (Ethics-based Teaching Helps Optimize STEM). This interdisciplinary initiative introduces neuroscience concepts to middle- and high school students while exploring their ethical and societal impacts, with the goal of increasing representation in STEM fields, especially neuroscience.
Our role was to equip Senn High School juniors with effective communication and presentation skills, empowering them to engage middle-school students in discussions on neuroscience topics and their ethical implications. Over a six-week summer research program, these high-school students received hands-on research experience focused on mentoring skills development. Our sessions included team-based learning strategies, communication exercises, and guidance on activity design, preparing students for near-peer mentoring interactions with middle schoolers.
"We were able to help students communicate complex ideas clearly and confidently, enhancing their ability to lead discussions on neuroethical topics and contribute to the project's goals", said Saswati Koya, CSME instructional coach and member of the project team.
This summer, CSME partnered with LUC neuroscience faculty members Dr. Bill Rochlin and Dr. Elizabeth Wakefield to support the "Ethos Project" (Ethics-based Teaching Helps Optimize STEM). This interdisciplinary initiative introduces neuroscience concepts to middle- and high school students while exploring their ethical and societal impacts, with the goal of increasing representation in STEM fields, especially neuroscience.
Our role was to equip Senn High School juniors with effective communication and presentation skills, empowering them to engage middle-school students in discussions on neuroscience topics and their ethical implications. Over a six-week summer research program, these high-school students received hands-on research experience focused on mentoring skills development. Our sessions included team-based learning strategies, communication exercises, and guidance on activity design, preparing students for near-peer mentoring interactions with middle schoolers.
"We were able to help students communicate complex ideas clearly and confidently, enhancing their ability to lead discussions on neuroethical topics and contribute to the project's goals", said Saswati Koya, CSME instructional coach and member of the project team.