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The American Society of Biochemistry and Â鶹´«Ã½É«ÇéƬ Biology awarded five Science Outreach and Communication, or SOC, grants to early-career scientists in January. The awardees will use hands-on activities, community engagement and educational outreach to make molecular biology accessible and meaningful to diverse audiences across ages and backgrounds.

Each grant supplies up to $1,000 for a new or existing public engagement activity to promote the molecular understanding of life. Recipients are chosen by the ASBMB Science Outreach and Communication Committee, or SOCC, whose mission is to expand the effectiveness of inclusive and accessible science outreach and communication activities.

Since the grant’s 2021 inception, the committee has received 137 applications. Each grant is reviewed by members of the SOCC. Over four funding cycles, the committee has awarded grants to undergraduates, graduate students and assistant and associate professors from the U.S. and various international locations.

The committee aims to award grants that benefit under-resourced student groups. Successful applications include a thorough description of the project as well as information about the target population.

Here are this year’s projects and recipients:

Biohazard outbreak: Unraveling an epidemic on DNA Day

Christian McDonald, Graduate Student, University of Miami

This educational initiative will teach core concepts of DNA structure and function using accessible, hands-on activities designed to inspire learners of all ages at a Title 1 Miami-Dade High School, which serves mainly Latinx students. The program collaborated with existing University of Miami projects to connect graduate students with local high schoolers.

At UM on DNA Day, students will participate in seven station activities to learn about the biology of epidemics. Each station will reveal a clue about the epidemic’s origins, allowing students to solve pieces of a biological mystery throughout the day. The project’s goal is to empower high school students to consider careers in science, engage in discussion with graduate students, help students combine data to yield a novel finding and experience the environment of a college campus.

“By offering underserved students an immersive and hands-on introduction to DNA biology, we hope to ignite their curiosity and show them that science is a space where they belong,” McDonald said.

Curious about science? Live, laugh and learn events

Lizbeth Nieves, Graduate Student, Arizona State University

Through interactive lessons, this project will engage older adults in learning about cellular biology and healthy aging.

With engaging activities like Heritability Bingo, Genetics Jeopardy! and Cells Gone Wild, this project will bring science to retirement home residents in the Phoenix metropolitan area, with the goal of increasing trust. The project will recruit bilingual scientists to reach non-English speakers.

“By humanizing scientists and highlighting the integrity and rigor of the scientific process, we hope to rebuild confidence in science as a reliable means of understanding the world,” Nieves said.

GXRLS STEM Club at Hartford Memorial Middle School

Samantha Liu, Graduate Student, Darthmouth College

This outreach initiative will spark curiosity and confidence in girls and nonbinary middle school students through hands-on STEM activities focused on biology and molecular science.

The GXRLS STEM Club at Hartford Memorial Middle School is an inclusive after-school program for students to explore science through fun, hands-on experiments. This year’s theme is food science, and activities taught students about biology and chemistry related to food and introduced them to scientists from Dartmouth College. The club aims to inspire students in rural areas with limited STEM opportunities to build their confidence. Volunteers also gain valuable mentoring experience.

“As a volunteer, seeing these students’ excitement and curiosity grow reminds me why diversity and inclusion in STEM matter- everyone deserves a chance to see themselves as a scientist," Liu said.

Â鶹´«Ã½É«ÇéƬ approaches to protein analysis in health and disease

Eva Rodriguez Cruz, Assistant Professor, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico

This workshop series will provide undergraduate students at Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico with hands-on training in key protein analysis techniques, such as ELISA, western blot and protein purification. The project’s goal is to enhance student understanding of the applications of protein in health, disease and biomedical research by connecting theory with real-world applications in disease diagnostics and therapeutics. The program will also emphasize mentorship by graduate students, fostering scientific skills and career development in a region with limited resources.

“By equipping students with these foundational tools, we aim to empower the next generation of scientists to tackle health challenges both locally and globally,” Rodriguez Cruz said.

Cena y ciencias dual-language science nights

Juliet Gonzalez, Post-baccalaureate researcher, University of Connecticut Health
Patricia Hare, D.M.D./Ph.D. student, University of Connecticut Health

This bilingual program will bring families together over a shared meal and hands-on science lessons, fostering both community connection and scientific literacy.

Cena y ciencias will bring Spanish-speaking Hartford Public School families together with Latinx scientists for quarterly bilingual events combining family-style dinners and engaging hands-on molecular biology activities. The program will introduce diverse scientific career paths while fostering communication about science at home, supported by relatable role models and materials in Spanish and English. Graduate and undergraduate volunteers will ensure an inclusive and supportive environment for all ages.

“By connecting families with scientists from their own communities, we aim to inspire young learners and strengthen family engagement in STEM,” Hare said.