Dr. Ramírez-Andreotta received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create a national deep engagement learning model of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) education that empowers students in Environmental Justice (EJ) communities. Read more about the grant in the link below:
NIH-National Institute of General Medical Sciences Science Education Partnership Award (Award # R25GM146227)
“Building a culture of health in the green: Participatory learning and action to address air and soil quality in rural underserved communities”
Dr. Mónica Ramírez-Andreotta, Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Research Translation Lead Investigator for the University of Arizona Superfund Research Center, investigates exposure pathways and communication strategies to translate environmental health research to action and to achieve structural change.
What are the objectives?
The proposed educational program is focused on social determinants of health and soil and air quality in rural medically underserved communities in AZ that neighbor resource extraction. Science education objectives include understanding: (1) how advisory boards can foster the development of critical thinking and communication skills; (2) how a summer certification program (rooted in intersectionality, co-created citizen/community science, and visual art) can increase science and environmental health literacy (EHL); (3) how an equity-centered community design approach to data sharing strategies can build a participant’s EHL; and (4) how to successfully broaden participation in STEAM learning by historically underrepresented individuals living in environmental justice (EJ) communities.
What are the project goals?
The goal of the “Building a Culture of Health and Action” Project is to create and pilot a national model of STEAM education that engages 7th-12th graders and provides them with the tools, skills and support to document, reflect upon, and communicate issues of concern (through advisory boards and Photovoice); collect environmental samples (through co-created citizen/community science); and make sense of data so that their results can inform actions at the local, regional, and even national level (through data visualization and environmental communication).
Methods - how will we implement this project?
- Establish a Community Advisory Board and Youth Advisory Board (C/YAB)
- Build a STEAM micro-credentialed program for promotoras, residents, teachers and 7th-12th graders within historically underrepresented populations who are disproportionately impacted by climate change and environmental pollution
- Use an equity-centered community design approach to design and evaluate data sharing strategies, boosting participants’ environmental health literacy