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When I started my PhD in Oncological Sciences, I had an optimistic assumption that my graduate work would quickly materialize into something that could impact the health and wellbeing of patients. However, humbled by the slow progress of research, I quickly realized that a research discovery amounting to a significant societal impact can require a marathon of meticulous work in a scientist’s lifetime.

My name is Natalia Tapia-Arellano, and I currently work as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Utah. I chose to work with STEMCAP (STEM Community Alliance Program), which focuses on providing STEM education opportunities to incarcerated youth in Utah.

As an advocate for STEM education and women’s empowerment, I was thrilled to participate alongside Annabel in the SheTech Explorer Day event, where we had the opportunity to present a booth about undergraduate and graduate school to a diverse group of 3700 girls spanning grades 6 to 12. Held at the spacious Mountain American Exposition Center, the venue buzzed with excitement and anticipation as girls from various backgrounds gathered to explore the world of technology.

Just before the Covid-19 pandemic brought our world to a halt, I took a one-day weaving class at my local yarn shop. The next day I bought a loom. Though an experienced knitter, it was a somewhat impulsive purchase to quell curiosities I had about the art. Little did I know the pandemic would soon provide a lot of time to experiment. What I didn’t anticipate was how challenging it would be to do that experimentation without access to support from a community of fellow weavers.

Neurodivergent children and young adults can struggle with mainstream school requirements. For example, people with attention-deficit disorder (ADD) or Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) will often have a special skill or focus. They can excel in this subject at school, more so than other students, but further education requires students to have a well-rounded skill set, which can exclude neurodivergent people from studying their passion further.

As I stepped into Meridian Mall on a bright Saturday morning, the hum of bustling shoppers and local produce sellers filled the halls. With support from the Government of Meridian Township, this venue would serve as the backdrop for our engagement activity aimed at spreading awareness about the practical benefits of solar energy.

I recently had the opportunity to host an engaging and interactive lesson on electrochemistry and electron-transfer reactions at the Saint Louis City Museum on September 30, 2023. The goal of the event was to teach the participant about electrochemistry and electron-transfer reactions while at the same time providing them with a lesson about why we make things and how electrosynthesis (and synthetic chemistry in general) allows us to probe the world around us.

Where can you get fresh produce from local farmers and build a battery from the 1800’s? The Playa Vista farmer’s market. Farmer’s markets were an important place to learn about the people in my community when I was growing up, so when the STEM Ambassador Program (STEMAP) gave me the opportunity to work with a focus group to organize an engagement activity, I knew I wanted to work with a farmer’s market.

As scientists, we are eager to engage with the public, especially with the younger generation, by sharing our knowledge in a way that is both accessible and motivating. Sharing the thrill of scientific exploration can spark curiosity and a passion for learning among children.

As a scientist, it’s our job to think both creatively and analytically to advance scientific knowledge and solve problems. Sometimes, I find myself so caught up in the details of my research that I can forget how truly beautiful and inspiring science can be. Science is for everyone, and everyone can do science.