Kara is the NOVA Education Digital Editor. Before NOVA, Kara worked as an independent wildlife and environment journalist. She has reported on a range of topics including environmental justice for nail salon workers in New York City, the link between the illegal wildlife trade and COVID-19, the next generation of female ocean explorers, as well as a series of in-depth interviews with the organizers of the viral online movement Black Birders Week. Kara holds degrees in journalism and environmental studies from New York University.

Alex Clark is the Digital Video Producer for the NOVA Science Studio. He produces original videos for the program and leads video production training for site coordinators and students. Alex is a video journalist, cinematographer, and instructor of documentary filmmaking and he holds a degree in journalism from Columbia University. He has created TV and digital content for PBS, NBC, and NowThis. A lover of all things science, he produced and co-hosted Vox’s Emmy-nominated YouTube series, Glad You Asked.

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NOVA digital editor, Kara Norton, observing a great hammerhead shark in Bimini, The Bahamas. Image Credit: Michael Ryan Clark

Moving beyond Shark Week, these women-led groups teach thousands of students about the critical role sharks play in the marine ecosystem.

Moving beyond Shark Week, these women-led groups teach thousands of students about the critical role sharks play in the marine ecosystem.

Meet the women diversifying shark science

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Water. Turn on the faucet and it’s always there. Without it we perish. But how safe is our tap water? In this special report narrated by Joe Morton, NOVA investigates what happened in Flint, Michigan, when local officials changed the city’s water source to save money, but overlooked a critical treatment process. As the water pipes corroded, lead leached into the system, exposing the community—including thousands of children—to dangerous levels of poison. NOVA uncovers the science behind this manmade disaster— from the intricacies of water chemistry to the biology of lead poisoning to the misuse of science itself. NOVA follows ordinary citizens and independent scientists who exposed the danger lurking in Flint’s water and confronted those who turned a blind eye. And discover the disturbing truth that reaches far beyond Flint—water systems across the country are similarly vulnerable. How can we protect ourselves from poisoned water? (Premiered May 31, 2017)

What exactly went wrong in Flint—and what does it mean for the rest of the country?

Poisoned Water

Over 2 billion people are living in areas of water scarcity, according to the United Nations, and that number could grow to 5 billion by 2050. Implementing AI could help. Image credit: iStock, brazzo

Around the world, aging and inadequate water systems are a huge public health problem. Now, researchers are using artificial intelligence to help conserve and monitor the quality of drinking water.

Thirsty for solutions, water managers are putting AI-powered tools to work

In the NOVA Exoplanet Lab, you'll meet a variety of alien creatures that need your help in finding a new planet to call home.

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A sculpture of James Marion Sims. Often “portrayed as a champion of women’s health,” this 19th-century “father of modern gynecology” developed many of his techniques by conducting unethical research and experiments on enslaved Black women. Image Credit: Matt Green/Flickr/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

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 Imagine a world where instead of taking a bus or train to work <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/take-flying-car-work/">you could take a flying car</a>. In this world, goods and supplies can be delivered with ease to remote locations that are difficult to access or are in desperate need of supplies after a natural disaster. Kofi Asante, vice president of strategy and business development at Elroy Air, dreams of finding new ways to serve these communities. Asante’s goal is to democratize access to resources by changing how they’re transported, using less infrastructure and hybrid-powered autonomous aircraft.Featured in the NOVA documentary <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/great-electric-airplane-race/">Great Electric Airplane Race</a>, the aerospace startup Elroy Air is building autonomous flying cargo systems that utilize electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology. However, these are not your average consumer drones. With the advancement of eVTOL technology, cargo drones may autonomously pick up and drop off cargo pods on the ground without human intervention. These unpiloted flying cargo systems run on hybrid-electric engines and can transport 300 pounds of cargo for 300 miles at 140 miles per hour to remote locations that have previously been difficult to service through traditional delivery methods.Their secret? The space required for Elroy Air’s hybrid-electric Chaparral drone to takeoff and land is less than the size of a helipad and does not rely on ground infrastructure that traditional aircraft require. The advancement of hybrid-electric aircraft would also lower carbon dioxide emissions and help meet the European Commission objectives for aviation’s environmental impact by 2050, notes the <a href="https://www.nae.edu/234446/Hybrid-Electric-Aircraft-to-Improve-Environmental-Impacts-of-General-Aviation">National Academy of Engineering</a>.Traditionally, airport owners must have access to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/airport/Site-selection">thousands of acres of land</a> to build a commercial airport.Infrastructure is essential to an expanding human population, but this development can also negatively impact the environment. Clearing land and building roads to support airport facilities can fragment habitat or cut off a migration route for endangered species. However, environmental concerns are not always taken into consideration during the design, planning and construction of infrastructure projects, notes <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/infrastructure">World Wildlife Fund</a>.When there is not enough existing land available to build the terminals, runways, control towers, baggage systems, gate operations, and lighting systems necessary for an airport to traditionally function, land is often seized through <a href="https://www.faa.gov/airports/airport_compliance/relocation_assistance/land_acquisition_under_aip/overview/">eminent domain</a>.Under this legal framework, the U.S. federal government can <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/eminent_domain">seize private property and convert it into public use</a>. The government may only exercise this power under the Fifth Amendment if they provide just compensation to property owners. While advocates of eminent domain note its ability to support <a href="https://www.justice.gov/enrd/history-federal-use-eminent-domain">local economic growth, supply cities with drinking water, and protect national security interests</a>, others observe that it has historically “forcibly displaced hundreds of thousands of people, most of them poor, politically weak, or members of racial and ethnic minorities,” reports Ilya Somin, in an analysis for the<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2017/05/26/the-american-experience-with-eminent-domain-and-its-possible-lessons-for-others/"> Washington Post</a>.When deciding what projects to focus on, one of the core issues Asante takes into account is social impact.“I have been fortunate to be able to launch projects and companies that focus on enhancing the well-being of the communities they serve,” Asante says. “Whether it is information, work opportunities, or rapid logistics of essential goods, my goal has been to democratize access.”NOVA spoke with Asante about this emerging transport technology, the potential impact it could have on communities, and his advice for students about adapting lessons learned in school to complex systems that have the potential to change the lives of billions of people.
 

 
 Kara Norton (KN): How would you describe the current landscape of the electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) field and how is Elroy Air applying it to its aircraft?Kofi Asante (KA): With electric vertical takeoff and landing, you&#x27;re basically using these motors and electric-powered batteries in a way they haven&#x27;t ever been used before. This is happening with smaller drones that deliver blood or medical supplies. It’s also happening with flying taxis and flying cars, where now they can actually go from city to city or even within a city in a very quiet way. Then in our space, we&#x27;re thinking about the larger aircraft that is specifically focused on cargo. The way that I typically like to break this up is into two categories: There is cargo and there is passenger vertical takeoff and landing. Then just going on the spectrum from smaller to larger, there are the small drones that you may see, moving blood, or packages for e-commerce, or maybe even something fun like a burrito or a pizza. Elroy Air falls in the middle. We have a very similar makeup to what you would actually find in a flying car or taxi, but only we are entirely focused on moving cargo. So that could be medical supplies, food, water, organs, whatever you think about as time-sensitive or urgent. It could also be the packages you are expecting from any sort of e-commerce player.
 

 
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 KN: With at least <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/great-electric-airplane-race/">200 startups</a> around the globe working on this technology, what gaps are you hoping to fill?KA: The way that I think about this is that there are over 1 billion people who are disconnected from reliable roadways. That means challenging infrastructure. This could even include water, if you think about island nations. It could be because of the weather conditions and icing. There are places, especially when it gets really, really cold and there&#x27;s a lot of ice, that you&#x27;re putting a person at risk, a pilot at risk, to be able to fly to certain environments and communities. But if you do not, then that community could be at risk of running out of the goods that they need. There are so many situations where it&#x27;s actually very challenging to be able to get supplies from point A to point B as quickly and safely as possible. That&#x27;s where we think about the large long-term value add of this type of VTOL cargo autonomous system.For us, we&#x27;re going to be moving 300 to 500 pounds of payload over a 300-mile range, so that&#x27;s our sweet spot. There&#x27;s always a trade-off with aerospace between weight and range, so if we wanted to go 500 miles, then maybe we move less, and if we wanted to go 50 miles, then maybe we could move more.
 

 
 KN: With a background in business, political science, and political theory, what drew you to the eVTOL field?KA: I keep finding myself in situations where I&#x27;m the only business person in a sea of engineers, and I know that&#x27;s atypical. I&#x27;ve got a couple thoughts on that, but it all starts with my parents. My dad is from Ghana, West Africa, is an engineer, and so he had that skill set. My mom, an African American woman, was a professor in communications, and so that helped because they would always say, &quot;It&#x27;s really great to know how to build something, but it&#x27;s almost more important to be able to communicate it and know the high level of what each audience is going to need.&quot; That was the catalyst for me to feel like I had some sort of place in this field without having a science background.You don&#x27;t have to be an engineer to go into this space. It can be accessible for everyone. But when I was in school, my focus really taught me how to condense complex information into very simple frameworks and arguments that help you make sense of the world. I apply that same methodology to what I do every day. I take in the information I learn, I listen, and then I try to make it simple because it&#x27;s easy to make things complex.
 

 
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 KN: Could you tell me more about the different applications for this type of system?KA: When we look at the market in particular, we look at it as healthcare, express parcels, even remote operations, which have humanitarian and defense applications. Starting with healthcare, this could be vaccines, it could be medical devices, medical supplies, organ delivery, really anything that helps improve the quality of life there. The next one would be express parcels, and transporting packages that you order through e-commerce. The third group ends up being remote operations, and when I think about remote operations, that&#x27;s humanitarian organizations like the United Nations or World Food Program who are really servicing things like vitamins and essential goods. Anything that we would consider to be essential, they need to make sure they are able to provide to a lot of communities that are very vulnerable. On the defense side, we could be able to deliver lifesaving medical supplies and food and water to troops in need without necessarily putting a person at risk who would have to go deliver these supplies. This also extends past humanitarian or defense applications. There are organizations like Australia Post and Canada Post who are mandated by the country to be able to service all communities. Independent of how easy or challenging it is and independent of how cost-effective it is, they still need to service those communities, so we want to help them do that effectively.
 

 
 
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 <img alt="unpiloted flying cargo system parked on runway" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" width="800"
 src="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/media/images/Elroy_Air_Runway_Photo_2.width-800.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>The space required for Elroy Air’s hybrid-electric Chaparral drone to take off and land is less than the size of a helipad, and one pilot would be responsible for an entire fleet. Image courtesy of Kofi Asante<div class="credit"></div></figcaption>
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 KN: What are some of the engineering limitations?KA: When we think about the capabilities of what&#x27;s possible, a lot of times, the existing way of going about this could have been to retrofit or change an existing aircraft. If you are going to do that, sometimes you can run into some limitations. Because our system is not purely electric, we have the opportunity to take advantage of a lot of preexisting components in traditional aircraft but then also take advantage of these newer systems, electric motors, and batteries that are coming in and get the best of both worlds, which is why we&#x27;re able to cover a wider range. What you&#x27;ll likely end up seeing with a lot of the all-electric systems, they have a place in this world and are very important, but they&#x27;ll end up being range limited.So, if you think about it, we&#x27;re like a Prius as opposed to a Tesla. What we&#x27;ve found is that the electric charging stations that would be required on both sides fundamentally just are not possible in a lot of places in the world. So if you truly, truly want to get to this idea, this vision, of being able to democratize access with rapid logistics to over a billion people, you have to be thinking about what are the ways in which you can do that without having to increase the cost of infrastructure or increase the number of vertiports.
 

 
 KN: When we think about the implications of this autonomous cargo delivery system, how are you planning to keep it accessible for all people?KA: I can speak to what we can do to support. The biggest one so far is making sure that we build a safe, reliable, high-quality system that&#x27;s robust, but then we do it in mass production so we can bring the cost down and then we enable this level of autonomy for fleet management where you actually have one pilot who can manage a whole fleet, so potentially even one person managing a ton of aircraft. So, you can continue to bring the cost down more and more. That&#x27;s something I&#x27;m super mindful of and one of the main reasons why I decided to join Elroy Air.When I ended up essentially choosing to say yes and take this opportunity, a big reason was talking with my dad about the work that could be done in a place like Ghana, where he is from. You recognize that there&#x27;s a growing market, there&#x27;s a big need, there&#x27;s challenging infrastructures, but the cost could end up being a big barrier to even being able to have access. Even if you had the right solution, if it&#x27;s not within that ceiling, then that could be a problem. So that&#x27;s where I&#x27;ve said we&#x27;re going to have to be mindful of how we build a safe and reliable product. I&#x27;m also a big proponent, especially as we go into new markets, of hiring locally and making sure that we&#x27;re able to get the actual insight from the ground up on how we can impact the community because there&#x27;s so many things that we would just miss if we try to build it without getting their thoughts.
 

 
 
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 <img alt="Kofi Asante standing beside the new Chaparral aircraft" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" width="800"
 src="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/media/images/Kofi_Asante_Photo_2.width-800.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>Delivering goods to remote locations can be extremely challenging, yet access to supplies are vital for people that live in these areas. Kofi Asante hopes to service communities around the world with the help of Elroy Air’s uncrewed cargo system. Image courtesy of Kofi Asante<div class="credit"></div></figcaption>
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 KN: Do you have any advice for students looking to engage more with the eVTOL field?KA: A big thing that is close to my heart is sharing with kids that are coming out of either middle school or high school is that this is possible and that they are the future of this technology. I want to create space for underrepresented people who want to break into the field. I&#x27;m hoping that I can open up the door for more. Whether they want to pursue being an engineer, or go down the marketing, sales, business route, whatever it ends up being, any of those positions are going to be needed, I just want students to know that they can do it, and there is a place for them here.I&#x27;m also on the board right now for our Entrepreneurship Center over at Tufts, and we try to cultivate a lot of this exploration for students. But I also oftentimes will say if there&#x27;s something you&#x27;re on the fence about doing, it&#x27;s a great time to try it in college and just experiment and see what sticks. I would have never known that tech and transportation in particular were going to be my focuses, but by talking to a lot of different people and then being able to experiment by going to different internships and trying those things was always really helpful. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
 

 
 To learn more about the kinds of trade-offs that engineers need to make to meet strict design challenges, and how more efficient clean energy technologies are possible, explore NOVA resources that address these topics.<a href="https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvtif-sci-solarflightchallenges/overcoming-the-challenges-of-solar-powered-flight-the-impossible-flight/">Overcoming the Challenges of Solar-Powered Flight | The Impossible Flight</a> In these videos from NOVA: The Impossible Flight, learn more about the challenges that engineers overcame to build a solar-powered airplane that flew around the world.<a href="https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvsb-sci-designbattery/wgbh-nova-search-for-the-super-battery-designing-a-cheaper-safer-and-cleaner-storage-battery/">Search for the Super Battery | Designing a Cheaper, Safer, and Cleaner Storage Battery</a> In this video from NOVA: Search for the Super Battery, examine a new approach to create a cheaper, safer, and environmentally friendly battery to meet society’s energy-storage needs.<a href="https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvgs-sci-fishscales/wgbh-nova-gross-science-electronics-powered-by-fish-scales/">Gross Science | Electronics Powered by Fish Scales</a> Physicists have developed a way to turn fish scales into biodegradable nanogenerators. Learn how fish scales can generate electricity, in this video from NOVA’s Gross Science series.<a href="https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvsb-sci-licell/wgbh-nova-search-for-the-super-battery-inside-a-lithium-metal-cell/">Search for the Super Battery | Inside a Lithium Metal Cell</a> In this media gallery from NOVA: Search for the Super Battery, scrutinize the subatomic properties that explain why lithium is so commonly found in batteries that power a range of devices, including cell phones, automobiles, and most recently electric airplanes. Use this resource to unpack the conditions inside a lithium battery that may warrant safety concerns.
 

 
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Kofi Asante standing beside the new Chaparral aircraft

Kofi Asante pictured beside Elroy Air’s hybrid-electric ‘Chaparral’ aircraft. This unpiloted flying cargo system can transport 300 pounds of cargo for 300 miles at 140 miles per hour. Image courtesy of Kofi Asante

With a fleet of hybrid-powered autonomous aircraft, Elroy Air&#x27;s Kofi Asante is working to democratize access to resources by changing how they are transported.

The aerospace startup that's revolutionizing resource transport

As we continue to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, it is important to acknowledge the ongoing role that these communities play in shaping the nation. The annual May celebration recognizes the country’s more than 22 million Asian Americans, and 1.6 million Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander Americans, but the collective celebration can largely be attributed to the dogged efforts of Capitol Hill staffer, Jeanie Jew.
 

 
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 Jew’s great-grandfather, M.Y. Lee, played a key role in American history, helping to build the transcontinental railroad. To unite the eastern and western sections of the railroad, Central Pacific hired roughly <a href="https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/chinese-transcontinental-railroad-workers-video/asian-americans/">15,000 Chinese laborers</a> who each shoveled 20 pounds of rock over 400 times a day to complete the Summit Tunnel at Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Despite their backbreaking labor, when the two great railroads were united at Promontory Point, Utah, M.Y. Lee and his compatriots were excluded from the historic ceremony commemorating the union of East and West. When Jew witnessed the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations of 1976, she identified a lack of recognition for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. She believes that not only should these communities understand their own heritage, but that all Americans should have an awareness of their contributions and histories in the U.S. Signed into law in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush, the commemorative month honors the arrival of the first known Japanese immigrant to the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869.
 

 
 As we strive to acknowledge the contributions of Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the fabric of this country, it is important to acknowledge the gaps in visibility that these groups currently experience, particularly in the sciences.A <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2020.0877">2020 study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B</a> analyzed the demographics of scientists featured in seven commonly used biology textbooks in introductory biology classes across the United States.The study concluded that fewer than 7% of the scientists featured in textbooks were scientists of color, fewer than 3% of scientists featured were Asian, and 0% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Over 90% of the scientists highlighted across all seven biology textbooks were white, and 86% male.&quot;Overall, very few scientists of color were highlighted, and projections suggest it could take multiple centuries at current rates before we reach inclusive representation,” note the study’s authors. “We call upon textbook publishers to expand upon the scientists they highlight to reflect the diverse population of learners in biology.&quot;As the United States becomes more diverse, and at times more divided, while facing enormous challenges, how do we move forward together? We must first draw attention to and correct the historical record of those who have been left out of textbooks.A towering figure in the fight against AIDS, who also helped lay the groundwork for the formulation of the<a href="https://www.amfar.org/HIV-Research-Covid-Vaccines/"> Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to fight COVID-19</a>, is the late Chinese-American virologist Dr. Flossie Wong-Staal.
 

 
 
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 <img alt="Black and white photo of Flossie Wong-Staal in a lab coat at the National Cancer Institute" class="richtext-image full-width" height="400" width="800"
 src="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/media/images/Flossie_Wong-Staal.width-800.png"/>
 <figcaption>Dr. Flossie Wong-Staal was the first scientist to clone HIV and determine the function of its genes, a major step in proving that HIV is the cause of AIDS. Image Credit: National Cancer Institute Visuals Online<div class="credit"></div></figcaption>
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 In 1993, AIDS was the leading cause of death among people aged 25-44 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With so many lives hanging in the balance, an elite army of medical researchers was working to learn everything they could about this enigmatic disease. One of these researchers was Flossie Wong-Staal.Before she became a world-renowned molecular biologist and virologist, Wong-Staal’s story began in Guangzhou, China, in 1946. Born Yee Ching Wong and educated at a Roman Catholic girls’ school in Hong Kong, she was encouraged to adopt an English name to further her academic opportunities, noted her husband Jeffrey McKelvy.This pressure to change her Chinese name and conform speaks to a systematic expectation that Asians who want to be accepted in American society have to remove certain aspects of their identity in order to fit in with the dominant culture.When she told her father that she did not want to be “another Teresa or Mary,” he suggested Flossie, after the typhoon. “That’s you, you’re a Flossie,” he told her.
 

 
 Wong-Staal went on to study bacteriology at UCLA, first graduating with honors in 1968, then earning a doctorate in molecular biology in 1972. She joined the National Cancer Institute in 1973 as a researcher in the lab of virologist Dr. Robert Gallo, where she became integral to the lab’s study of retroviruses.Retroviruses are unique in that they invade cells and insert their genes into the DNA of their hosts, thus changing the genome of that cell. A retrovirus called HTLV-III, isolated from several patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), captured Gallo and Wong-Staal’s attention. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6100648/#:~:text=A%20retrovirus%20belonging%20to%20the,virus%20was%20designated%20HTLV%2DIII.">As they studied it</a>, they concluded that patients with AIDS developed the disease as a result of the transmission of HTLV-III through contaminated blood.Gallo and Wong-Staal were not alone in their quest to understand AIDS. French scientist Dr. Luc Montagnier of the Pasteur Institute of Paris was simultaneously analyzing the disease, paying particular attention to a retrovirus isolated from patients with AIDS called Lymphadenopathy Associated Virus (LAV).HTLV-III and LAV turned out to be the same retrovirus, and the primary cause of AIDS. In 1986, the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses announced that the virus that causes AIDS will officially be known as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Gallo’s team<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/how-the-discovery-of-hiv-led-to-a-transatlantic-research-war"> shared the discovery of HIV</a> with Montagnier, but it was Wong-Staal who provided the molecular road map that made it possible. She became the first person to clone HIV, unpacking the virus piece by piece, probing its genes and proteins until she had unlocked its genetic code and understood how it evaded the body’s immune system. This later helped in the development of blood tests to detect the virus. It is <a href="https://ccr.cancer.gov/news/article/in-memoriam-flossie-wong-staal-phd">because of scientists like Wong-Staal</a> that HIV antibody tests and targeted antiretroviral drugs also emerged on the market. Because of these medical advances, AIDS is no longer considered a death sentence. It is estimated that antiretroviral treatment helps<a href="https://ourworldindata.org/hiv-aids#anti-retroviral-treatment-art"> avert 1.2 million deaths per year</a>—without them, global HIV/AIDS deaths would be more than twice as high, according to Our World in Data. And Wong-Staal’s contributions are still making a difference in virology.
 

 
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 “H.I.V. research built a strong foundation for COVID-19 research,” David Ho, a Columbia University virologist who directs the <a href="https://www.infectiousdiseases.cumc.columbia.edu/research/research-centers-and-programs/aaron-diamond-aids-research-center">Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center</a>, told the New York Times. “It’s why things are moving so fast on the vaccine front and the antibody front, as well as the development of drugs.”Wong-Staal’s research has <a href="https://ccr.cancer.gov/news/article/in-memoriam-flossie-wong-staal-phd">saved countless lives</a>, but the most thorough profiles of her work can be found in the obituaries. She was a giant in the fight against HIV/AIDS and yet there is no mention of her work in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services timeline that chronicles <a href="https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/history/hiv-and-aids-timeline">the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic</a> from the first reported cases in 1981 to the present. When the<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/how-the-discovery-of-hiv-led-to-a-transatlantic-research-war"> Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine</a> was awarded in the fall of 2008, it was only for Montagnier. He shared the 2008 prize with Dr. Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, who worked with him at the Pasteur Institute on HIV, and Dr. Harald zur Hausen, who discovered the human papillomavirus (HPV).Although Asian Americans are<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2018/01/09/diversity-in-the-stem-workforce-varies-widely-across-jobs/"> overrepresented in the STEM workforce</a>, accounting for 17% of college-educated STEM workers, compared with 10% of all college-educated workers, according to Pew Research Center, Asian American scientists and their stories have yet to make it into the hallowed halls of science history.In fact, nearly <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/10/business/asked-poll-name-prominent-asian-american-top-answer-was-dont-know-followed-by-jackie-chan-bruce-lee-wake-up-america/">half of Americans represented in a recent national study</a> were unable to name a single prominent Asian American, highlighting the lack of Asian American representation in U.S. media.
 

 
 
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 src="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/media/images/Jackie_Chan_at_ComicCon.width-800.png"/>
 <figcaption>The most common answer to the national survey question was “don’t know,” followed by Jackie Chan, and Bruce Lee. Image Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0<div class="credit"></div></figcaption>
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 The study was commissioned by <a href="https://www.laaunch.org/">Leading Asian Americans to Unite for Change</a> to uncover attitudes and perceptions of Asian Americans to examine the root causes of racism and discrimination. The study was conducted amid a rise in anti-Asian violence, with <a href="https://stopaapihate.org/">Stop AAPI Hate</a> reporting that<a href="https://stopaapihate.org/national-report-through-march-2021/"> hate incidents targeting Asian Americans in the U.S.</a> nearly doubled from 3,795 to 6,603 between 2020 and 2021. On May 20, President Biden signed into law the <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/05/20/998599775/biden-to-sign-the-covid-19-hate-crimes-bill-as-anti-asian-american-attacks-rise">COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act</a>, which addresses the increase of violence against Asian Americans and seeks to make reporting hate crimes more accessible at the local and state levels.In March, a gunman killed <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/what-we-know-about-the-atlanta-spa-shootings-that-killed-8-including-6-asian-women">eight people in Atlanta, including six Asian women</a>: Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Soon C. Park, Hyun J. Grant, Suncha Kim, and Yong A. Yue.In the wake of these<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/what-we-know-about-the-atlanta-spa-shootings-that-killed-8-including-6-asian-women"> attacks on Asian American women</a>, Elizabeth Kleinrock, an educator who creates curricular content for K–12 students around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, presented her<a href="https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/after-atlanta-teaching-about-asian-american-identity-and-history"> sixth-grade students with a survey</a>.
 

 
 One of the survey questions was, “I know of and can name at least three Asian Americans, either from history or the present day. (yes/no/maybe)”Only four out of 52 sixth-grade students could name three or more historical or present day Asian Americans. The survey went on to ask what questions students had about Asian American history, identities or experiences.One student wrote, “almost everything because I have not been educated on this topic yet, but I hope one day I could be.”Another wrote, “well, I know nothing, so I guess it would be helpful to know more about everything.”And another, “I just want to learn more because we don’t learn about it in school.”A growing number of parents, students, and teachers are calling for the inclusion of Asian American history in public schools. In fact, more than<a href="https://www.yahoo.com/now/over-2-500-asian-american-171210926.html"> 2,500 residents of New York City</a> have come together to<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQv87KVmRsqW5-WkPaAG1kp1XLnBlRsd_BqojsrfdREjaNbA/viewform"> sign an open letter</a> calling for the inclusion of Asian American history in public schools.“It is critical for all NYC students to see Asian American role models, historical figures, writers, artists, scientists, and contemporary leaders included in the school context, including but not limited to curriculum, classroom walls, library books, lesson slides, and performances,” reads the open letter addressed to New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio, and New York City Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter.Nina Chhita is a scientist, educator, and artist who shares her <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nina.draws.scientists/?hl=en">illustrations of historical and present day figures in science</a> on social media. In 2020, she began to focus primarily on the work of underrepresented scientists who are missing from textbooks. With over 25,000 Instagram followers, Nina is empowered by the responses she has received.
 

 
 
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 <img alt="Illustration of Flossie Wong Staal with viruses pictured behind her" class="richtext-image full-width" height="400" width="800"
 src="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/media/images/Flossie_Wong_Staal_by_Nina.width-800.png"/>
 <figcaption>Image Credit: Nina Chhita<div class="credit"></div></figcaption>
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 “I&#x27;ve mainly connected with teachers, parents, and educators,” Chhita says. “I have received some wonderful messages from teachers who are very passionate about communicating about women in science and math. I find their stories the most motivating because I was in school 10 years ago and these women scientists weren&#x27;t spoken about.”Developing pedagogy that is “culturally responsive” and “anti-racist” requires acknowledging existing gaps in the narratives of Wong-Staal’s work. The scientific achievements of many Asian and Pacific Islander Americans were a mystery to me before I specifically sought them out. By featuring scientists who were excluded from the canon of science history, like Wong-Staal, future curriculum can reframe a skewed historical record. Here are some NOVA resources to get you started:
 

 
 <h3>Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with resources from NOVA</h3>
 

 
 <a href="https://bit.ly/3b4XKDx">The Secret Life of Scientists &amp; Engineers | Janet Iwasa</a> Janet Iwasa is a molecular biologist whose award-winning illustrations and animations bring science to life. Using techniques from Hollywood movies, Iwasa hopes to create more accurate models to support research and better communicate ideas.
 

 
 <a href="https://mass.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvslos.sci.eng.kaku/michio-kaku/">The Secret Life of Scientists &amp; Engineers | Michio Kaku</a> Michio Kaku is a theoretical physicist who has built a career as a best-selling writer on the future—of science, the mind, and the human condition. Kaku says he usually works only with pencil and paper, and that equations dance around in his head. Inspired by Einstein from a young age, he thrills in his pursuit of universal laws of the universe.
 

 
 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EmgXM2OvOI">Black Hole Hunter: Chung-Pei Ma</a> Chung-Pei Ma is both a gifted violinist and one of the world’s foremost black hole hunters. She has led teams that discovered several of the largest known black holes from 2011-2016.
 

 
 <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/black-hole-hunter-priyamvda-natarajan/">Black Hole Hunter: Priyamvda Natarajan</a> As a child, theoretical astrophysicist Priyamvda Natarajan loved atlases. As an adult, she maps the cosmos. She is a professor in the departments of Astronomy and Physics at Yale University, noted for her work both in mapping dark matter and dark energy, and in models describing the assembly and growth of supermassive black holes.
 

 
 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGp_yFfxVCY">Making Science Accessible and Engaging | Sciencing Out | PBS</a> This video series features women science communicators—historical figures paired with contemporary ones. Each video explores the life of the historical character and how her work shaped the field of science communication. Through candid interviews, we see the work that each modern-day scientist is doing to inspire future generations of scientists and science communicators.
 

 
 <a href="https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/asian-americans-pbs/">Asian Americans on PBS</a> Within this collection you’ll find stories about the Chinese Exclusion Act, the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, Southeast Asian refugees after the Vietnam War, Filipino American farmworkers, the <a href="https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/the-fight-for-ethnic-studies/asian-americans-video/">fight for ethnic studies</a>, views from the<a href="https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/success-silicon-valley-video/asian-americans/"> top and bottom of success in Silicon Valley</a>, and much more. Teachers can utilize the accompanying lesson plans to explore the ways that Asian Americans have shaped our nation&#x27;s history.
 

 
 <a href="https://www.sciencebuddies.org/blog/aanhip-scientists">Inspiring Scientists and Engineers to Know | Science Buddies</a> This list features Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander scientists and engineers who have made (and are making) important contributions to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Use this resource to help broaden student awareness and explore related science projects and career paths.
 

 
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illustration of Asian and Pacific Islander scientists

Learn about Asian and Pacific Islander American scientists who have helped change the world, and the call for greater inclusion of their work in curriculum and textbooks.

Asian American scientists in STEM classrooms: increasing inclusion and visibility

<div class="related"></div>
 

 
 Imagine millions of people stranded in the cold without electricity, heat, or running water. Infrastructure has been crippled. Families are huddling for warmth in parked cars, and boiling water in their homes to ensure it is safe to drink. This may sound like the plot of a post-apocalyptic film, but it was very much a reality for millions of people across Texas last month.The week of February 13-17, a<a href="https://bit.ly/3lgFH0n"> record-setting winter storm</a> named Uri engulfed the state of Texas and brought with it plunging temperatures.Nearly 50% of Texas is powered by natural gas, 20% by coal, another 20% by wind and solar, and 10% by nuclear energy, according to the <a href="https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=TX">U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)</a>. With summer temperatures regularly soaring above 90 F, Texas energy systems safeguard against heat. The state’s power plants and natural gas system are not optimized for freezing conditions. Although Texas experienced a <a href="https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-blackout-preventable/">similar energy crisis 10 years ago</a>, and investigations concluded that Texas energy producers needed to insulate and winterize their systems for extreme cold, most systems remain poorly insulated.
 

 
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 As weather conditions worsened and temperatures dropped in February, much of the state’s infrastructure for producing and delivering electricity simply froze, says Michael Webber, an energy resources professor at the University of Texas at Austin.Webber notes that several coal plants turned off because of frozen equipment at the plants. Along with some snow-covered solar panels and frozen wind turbines, there were a series of outages throughout the system. These outages turned off electricity in different parts of the state, including sections of the natural gas system that are electrically operated, such as pumps and antifreeze injection systems. This led to the shutdown of even more power plants, producing a perfect storm of power failures.All the while, Texas residents were turning up the heat, leading to a surge in demand.As a result of the freezing conditions and rapid surge in energy usage, the state’s power grid began to malfunction, leading to cascading failures in the system and widespread blackouts. The infrastructure failure was then compounded by Texas&#x27; energy grid independence and lack of resilience, because most of Texas does not have the option of channeling energy from other states.During the storm, at least<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/22/texas-power-grid-extreme-weather/"> 4.5 million</a> electricity customers in Texas lost power, an estimated<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/03/15/texas-winter-storm-deaths/"> 57 people died</a> due to hypothermia, and about<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/17/texas-winter-storm-power-outage-ercot/"> 12 million people</a> received “boil notices” because of water quality issues, the Texas Tribune reported.“So we have a water problem—freezing water, become a gas problem, become a power problem, become a bigger gas problem, become a bigger power problem, become a water problem and a humanitarian crisis,” says Webber.
 

 
 
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 <img alt="Boiling ice on stove" class="richtext-image full-width" height="400" width="800"
 src="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/media/images/Boil_Notices_.width-800.png"/>
 <figcaption>Nearly 12 million people in the state of Texas were told to boil tap water before consuming it after Winter Storm Uri caused power blackouts at water treatment facilities.<div class="credit"></div></figcaption>
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 One resident who found herself without power for three nights was Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. Prior to the storm, Hidalgo<a href="https://twitter.com/HarrisCoJudge/status/1360659242781392897?s=20"> warned her county’s nearly 5 million residents</a> about the impending winter storm, but this did not spare her from the ferocity of the blizzard or the lack of preparation by utility companies.“It’s worth asking the question: Who set up this system and who perpetuated it knowing that the right regulation was not in place?” <a href="https://bit.ly/3vXSsSI">Hidalgo told the Associated Press</a>. “Those questions are going to have to be asked and I hope that changes will come. The community deserves answers.”In the aftermath of the Texas energy crisis, many are asking questions. How did this happen? Who is to blame? What role did natural gas, coal, and renewable energy play in the crisis? And how can we prevent a similar disaster from happening again?
 

 
 To answer these questions, one must understand America’s energy grid and how power is distributed.When it comes to its grid, Texas is an island. In the United States, there are three grids: east, west and Texas. Texas has an independent grid, which allows it to be untethered by <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-set-stage-its-energy-crisis-more-80-years-ago-n1258341">federal regulation</a>, and unlike most other states, it can generate enough electricity within its borders to be self-sufficient.
 

 
 
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 <img alt="Computer screen of Texas Energy Grid and electricity levels" class="richtext-image full-width" height="400" width="800"
 src="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/media/images/Control_Room_ERCOT.width-800.png"/>
 <figcaption>A view of the ERCOT Grid Control Center at their headquarters in Taylor, TX. Controllers route electricity through over 37,000 circuit miles of high-voltage transmission wires, and serve 26 million energy customers in Texas. Image courtesy of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)<div class="credit"></div></figcaption>
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 However, this also means that if something goes wrong, the state has difficulty importing power from neighboring states, leaving infrastructure vulnerable should extreme weather events cripple the system, says Webber.“So what happened in Texas, it’s not just about Texas,” says environmental engineer Greeshma Gadikota. “It’s about the need to rethink our energy infrastructure, the need to build in resilience in response to a changing climate in many, many different parts of the world. The risks 20, 30, 40 years ago are different from the risks that we face now.”According to Webber, we’re building our infrastructure for yesterday’s weather, not tomorrow’s weather.“The next hundred years will be different,” says Webber. “We know this, that the weather events will be more extreme and more frequent, which means hotter and colder, wetter and drier. So we have to deal with this and design for that.”
 

 
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 <h3>The role of renewable energy in the Texas energy crisis</h3>
 

 
 As power started to come back online following the storm,<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/16/texas-wind-turbines-frozen/"> false information began to circulate</a> regarding renewable energy and its connection to the energy crisis, reports The Texas Tribune. Some even identified <a href="https://bit.ly/399PFfl">frozen wind turbines</a> in West Texas as the root of the state’s energy supply problem. In reality, wind power makes up<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/16/natural-gas-power-storm/"> only a fraction</a> of the energy generated during the winter in Texas.“Texas is a gas state,” says Webber.Yet, some misleadingly attributed the power outages to frozen wind turbines.“This is what happens when you force the grid to rely in part on wind as a power source,” U.S. Rep. <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/directory/dan-crenshaw/">Dan Crenshaw</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDanCrenshaw/status/1361792727097212929">tweeted in mid-February.</a> “When weather conditions get bad as they did this week, intermittent renewable energy like wind isn’t there when you need it.”“We should never build another wind turbine in Texas,” read a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MillerForTexas/posts/we-should-never-build-another-wind-turbine-in-texas-the-experiment-failed-big-ti/3103832863172197/">Facebook post</a> from Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. “The experiment failed big time.”However, malfunctions in natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy systems were to blame for nearly<a href="https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/ercot-update-press-conference-on-texas-power-outages-february-17"> twice as many outages</a> as frozen wind turbines and solar panels, stated the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which runs the state’s power grid, during a press conference in February.The world’s energy consumption is predicted to grow by 56% in the next 25 years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). As the demand for energy swells, the stores of fossil fuels we currently depend on are dwindling and becoming more costly to obtain. The burning of these fossil fuels also discharges carbon, which has long-lasting negative effects on the environment—contributing to greenhouse gases that warm the planet and contribute to climate change.With demand for energy swelling, the Texas energy crisis serves as a wake-up call which exposes “<a href="https://grist.org/energy/texas-repeatedly-failed-to-protect-its-power-grid-against-extreme-weather/">cascading failures</a>” in the infrastructure of the U.S. electric system. It also reveals that these systems may not be ready to absorb the frenetic<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/one-texas-storm-exposed-energy-grid-unprepared-climate-change-rcna289"> climate-related spikes</a> in demand for power that Winter Storm Uri produced, reports NBC News.
 

 
 

<div class='pullquote'>
 “If the most energy-abundant region of the world can run short on energy, it can happen anywhere,” says Webber. “So climate science can be integrated into our energy planning to make the energy systems perform better. That’s what we need to do.”
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 As we continue to develop our renewable energy sources, electric grid regulators say the U.S. will need to develop<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/one-texas-storm-exposed-energy-grid-unprepared-climate-change-rcna289"> vast supplies of power storage</a>, such as gigantic batteries, which rely heavily on innovative technologies.As we grow more dependent on infrastructure to remain resilient during extreme fluctuations in temperature and weather conditions, we have to prepare ourselves and educate students on how communities will need to develop different renewable energy sources and energy storage technologies to meet their unique needs and environmental contexts. One helpful resource is the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/labs/lab/energy/">NOVA Energy Lab,</a> where students investigate what energy is, how it can be converted into useful forms, and why some sources are running low. It also allows students to compete to see whose renewable energy system designs can produce the most power. Below are examples of other NOVA resources that address these topics:
 

 
 
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 <h3>Build a better grid with energy resources from NOVA</h3>
 

 
 <a href="https://mass.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvel.sci.int.energy/energy-lab-interactive/">The Energy Lab Interactive</a> Use scientific data to design renewable energy systems for cities across the U.S. in this interactive from the NOVA Energy Lab. In the research challenge, students investigate what energy is, how it can be converted into useful forms, and why some sources are running low. Students will also have the chance to compete with others to see whose designs can produce the most power.
 

 
 <a href="https://mass.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvel.sci.tech.growapp/growing-appetites-limited-resources/">Growing Appetites, Limited Resources</a> In this video from NOVA’s Energy Lab, learn about the growing demand for energy and the impacts of energy use. Currently, the majority of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuels, which are limited resources. The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that pollutes the atmosphere and affects Earth&#x27;s climate. Share with your students how a sustainable future depends on finding alternative energy sources and developing new technologies that can support increasing energy demand and minimize environmental impacts.
 

 
 <a href="https://mass.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvel.sci.tech.wind/wind-power/">Wind Power</a> In this video from NOVA’s Energy Lab, learn about the benefits and limitations of wind power technologies. Modern wind turbines transform wind energy into electrical energy by capturing wind to turn an electrical generator. Wind farms that produce electricity using wind turbines are environmentally friendly, but they are not yet in widespread use. Some of the issues that limit the potential of wind power include energy storage, location, and cost.
 

 
 <a href="https://mass.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvsb-sci-gridstorage/wgbh-nova-search-for-the-super-battery-comparing-grid-energy-storage-solutions/">Search for the Super Battery | Comparing Grid Energy Storage Solutions</a> With the means to currently store just 2% of its generating capacity, the United States is searching for efficient and economical energy-storage solutions. Using <a href="https://mass.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvsb-sci-gridstorage/wgbh-nova-search-for-the-super-battery-comparing-grid-energy-storage-solutions/">this resource</a> from NOVA: Search for the Super Battery, students can examine three different technologies to store energy from renewable or conventional power sources for later use on an electrical grid.
 

 
 <a href="https://mass.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvel.sci.tech.smart/toward-a-smarter-grid/">Toward A Smarter Grid</a> The infrastructure of the U.S. electric power grid is over 100 years old and ill-equipped to handle the increasing demand for electricity and new power sources. A smarter power grid with an automated system to monitor problems and control the distribution of electricity could make the grid more efficient, balance energy demands, and lower the cost of electricity. Using this resource, students will learn how upgrading the power grid could be a key step toward a sustainable energy future.
 

 
 <a href="https://lsintspl3.wgbh.org/en-us/lesson/ilwgbh17-nvtoe-ilenergyfuture/1">Deciding Your City’s Energy Future</a> In this interactive, students play the role of a director of the fictional Greenville Light &amp; Power Department where they oversee the city’s power grid, the network of power lines and other equipment used to deliver electricity from suppliers to customers. Students must evaluate fossil fuel and renewable energy sources to decide which type of energy should be used to power the city’s electric grid in the coming decades as Greenville grows — evaluating the availability, cost, reliability, and environmental impact of different energy sources.
 

 
 <div class="newsletter"></div>

Ice and snow cover plants in the Texas Hill Country on February 15, 2021. Winter storm Uri brought historic cold weather, power outages, and traffic accidents to Texas as it swept across 26 states with a mix of freezing temperatures and precipitation. Image Credit: Sarika Khanwilkar

The February storm left dozens of Texans dead and millions without power—and exposed an aging energy grid unprepared for a changing climate. Can we build something better?

Why Texas was not prepared for Winter Storm Uri

<div class="related"></div>
 

 
 Join NOVA on three virtual field trips highlighting some of the scientists and engineers featured in the new three-part chemistry series NOVA <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/beyond-elements/">Beyond the Elements</a>. Each virtual field trip will consist of a live streamed demonstration and Q&amp;A with scientists who explore the fascinating chemistry that makes our world and everything in it—including us.We know that many classes are meeting virtually now due to school closures from the coronavirus pandemic and we invite you to join the conversation with your students on the <a href="http://links.nova.wgbh.org/u/click?_t=ec210e94258b4741874e196b0b576467&amp;_m=1k87PxZgEiKulR94H0uKu64PdVLibofL&amp;_e=GBS7ObIR7kN6XqMEbH1bMwncGBigV8TUEs8tr3C67u92_6h-wZZNMq-67FkZI8pzt05dHEthYFCbWGI-VDFjj8m8SV2gr_z5iyI7DTcp5zWVUSExCZE-gdWlf96AOvBO10BSxXcEPDRdVYe_bOLybwNLXnz8VdjCgEJFUMzULxRQECupAxYg2CUNyUgh9as5MkqmbisWDAyWs6lf2cXruXZDEgaCmzxin2gGDNGst0n1E_TzZxjnHug0fFDf_P3DaKK4ou_e2Ye5YvMHosheTw%3D%3D">NOVA Education Facebook page</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/NOVAEducation">YouTube channel</a> where we will be streaming the virtual field trips. If you’re interested in attending any of these trips with your students, please register below.
 

 
 <h3>Exploring the Blueprint of Organisms: Strawberry DNA Extraction</h3>
 

 
 Wednesday, January 27 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT Watch here: <a href="https://fb.watch/3OmbMztBzg/">NOVA Education Facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_zIzWyjWI8">NOVA Education Youtube</a>
 

 
 All living organisms have DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid; a blueprint for the development, growth and function of an organism. Have you ever wondered what DNA looks like and how to extract it from the cells of a living organism? For our first virtual field trip, join Dr. Monica Hall-Porter, featured in NOVA <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/beyond-the-elements-life/">Beyond the Elements: Life</a> to learn more about DNA and follow along with a live strawberry DNA extraction using common household items.
 

 
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 <h3>Don’t Try This at Home: Cracking the Secrets of Glass</h3>
 

 
 Tuesday, February 23 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT Watch Here: <a href="https://fb.watch/48Td0YuT22/">NOVA Education Facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fANEQILjebw">NOVA Education Youtube</a>
 

 
 Glass is a versatile, mesmerizing material that works in unexpected ways. In its molten state, it’s hotter than volcanic lava. But what happens when hot glass meets cold water? How big can a glass bubble get? What is glass made of, and how do you add color to it? For our second virtual field trip, learn about all the ways that glass breaks—from the safe to the explosive. Watch <a href="https://home.cmog.org/">Corning Museum of Glass</a> glassmakers, Chris Rochelle and Eric Meek, work with glass live as they answer these questions and more.
 

 
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 <h3>A Tour of the &#x27;Periodic Table&#x27; Table</h3>
 

 
 Wednesday, March 24 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT Watch Here: <a href="https://fb.watch/52Iwak9Ag8/">NOVA Education Facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NEYk5hdA4A">NOVA Education Youtube</a>
 

 
 For our third virtual field trip, visit science author <a href="http://home.theodoregray.com/">Theodore Gray</a> in his elemental office and see almost-first-hand his real solid wood periodic table…table. Theodore will show you thousands of samples of (nearly) all the chemical elements found in, on, and around the table and some of the spectacular reactions that occur between atoms and molecules.This event will be live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook so that educators may tune in with their virtual classes. For more information about the series, visit the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/beyond-elements/">Beyond the Elements</a> series page.
 

 
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 <h3>Science of Spice: Chile Pepper Chemistry </h3>
 

 
 Wednesday, April 21 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT Watch Here: <a href="https://fb.watch/52IzgPaB-4/">NOVA Education Facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtc3dKyMDqY">NOVA Education Youtube</a>
 

 
 Even though spicy foods cause burning sensations on our tongues, can make our noses run, and can even bring us to tears, humans can’t get enough of spicy foods! What is causing the wide range of reactions we experience when we eat spicy foods? Join <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/capsaicin-chili-peppers-physiological-effects/">Dr. Ivette Guzmán</a> from New Mexico State University for a chile pepper dissection to discuss the chemistry of chile peppers and why humans love spicy foods.This event is the fourth and final virtual field trip highlighting some of the scientists and engineers featured in the new three-part chemistry series NOVA: <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/beyond-elements/">Beyond the Elements</a>. It will be live-streamed on the NOVA Education <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vX2L72igq8PiJ0rF0329Q">YouTube</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NOVAeducation/">Facebook</a> pages.
 

 
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Join NOVA on three virtual field trips which highlight some of the scientists and engineers featured in the new chemistry series Beyond the Elements.

Take a Chemistry Field Trip with NOVA Education

“As we think about the best ways to educate students in STEM disciplines, we have to keep in mind that a lot of students have experiences with STEM where they may be discouraged,” says Monica Hall-Porter. “But if we can expose students to hands-on learning throughout their educational process, and give them the ability to explore, to ask questions, to experiment, it really does enhance the outcome!”
 

 
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 Monica Hall-Porter has dedicated her career to creating a robust pipeline for students who are interested in pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers. As the faculty development coordinator in the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Texas in Austin, Hall-Porter supports professional development for faculty that centers on improving and enhancing science pedagogy.Throughout her career, Hall-Porter has advocated for best practices in STEM education, specifically methods to promote and sustain student engagement. By creating opportunities for students to have hands-on experiences in laboratory settings, they can see science processes in action.
 

 
 Take the Freshman Research Initiative (FRI) at the University of Texas. Through this program, first-year students experience the excitement of scientific discovery firsthand. Participants do real-world research, use cutting-edge lab equipment, develop technological innovations, and publish papers in peer-reviewed science journals.In addition to her contributions to the University of Texas, Hall-Porter has mentored students through the <a href="https://oeop.mit.edu/programs/mites/program-details">Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES) program</a> at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and <a href="https://www.scienceclubforgirls.org/">Science Club for Girls</a> in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In these settings, students have the agency to ask thoughtful questions as they conduct their experiments, and are expected to record and interpret the data, mirroring the work that scientists do.
 

 
 Though the pandemic has significantly changed approaches to experiential learning with the shift to virtual classrooms, Hall-Porter has found creative ways to model new methods for this type of pedagogy. She recently led a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_zIzWyjWI8">virtual field trip</a> with NOVA Education where she built DNA models with candy and ran a strawberry DNA extraction lab! Using common household items, she showed just how easy it can be to create experiential learning experiences at home. She is also a featured scientist in the new three-part NOVA chemistry series <a href="https://to.pbs.org/3onA806">Beyond the Elements: Life</a>. This event is the first in a series of three virtual field trips highlighting some of the scientists and engineers featured in Beyond the Elements.
 

 
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 NOVA spoke with Hall-Porter about the impact of experiential learning on her own educational journey—and on students in general—and advice for educators on how to incorporate experiential learning into virtual classrooms during the pandemic.
 

 
 Kara Norton (KN): What path did you follow into the laboratory research field? What attracted you to this career?
 

 
 Monica Hall-Porter (MHP): I&#x27;m originally from Hawkins, Texas, which is a small town of about 1,330 people in Northeast Texas. I left Hawkins in the fall of 1996 to attend Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. I was a biology major and I was part of a unique scholarship called the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Scholars program. One key feature of the scholarship is that every summer MARC scholars were required to do research or engage in research projects in various institutions across the country. So, I interned at NASA through Florida A&amp;M University. I also worked at the University of Washington in a couple of different labs throughout my undergraduate career. I really developed an appreciation for research in a couple of different fields, but mostly research models centered around molecular and cellular biology. After Hampton, I went on to graduate school at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I was a student in a molecular- and cellular-biology-based graduate program that was run out of the pathology department of Wake Forest. During my time as a grad student I received a lot of exposure to a research unit that did work in establishing the molecular link between estrogen and cardiovascular disease, specifically as it relates to the loss of circulating estradiol after menopause. I will say that I received, through my undergraduate education and my graduate education, some of the best education that the country has to offer.
 

 
 KN: How did those early experiential learning opportunities during your undergraduate and graduate career inform the work that you currently do?
 

 
 MHP: As we think about the best ways to educate students in STEM disciplines, we have to keep in mind that a lot of students have experiences with STEM where they may be discouraged, or they may not be as curious because of the way that the curriculum is presented. But if we can expose students to hands-on learning throughout their educational process, and give them the ability to explore, to ask questions, to experiment, it really does enhance the outcome!I would say the same is true of my experience. I remember when I interviewed at Wake Forest for the position in the graduate program, one of the remarks that the professors made was that I had the ability to talk about the research I had participated in leading up to that moment. Specifically, to convey how the work that was being done in the laboratories that I worked in was advancing each respective academic field. I think providing chances to do hands-on work coupled with the ability for students to communicate the science is really the key to creating a robust pipeline of students who are interested in pursuing STEM careers.
 

 
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 KN: I would love to hear more about the work you are doing with Texas Institute for Discovery Education in Science (TIDES).
 

 
 MHP: TIDES is a dedicated teaching and learning unit that is housed in the College of Natural Sciences (CNS) at the University of Texas at Austin. It is unique in that it provides support in several different ways to teaching and learning in CNS. There is a very exciting program here called the Freshman Research Initiative (FRI). The FRI is the crown gem of experiential learning here. Through this program, students who are freshmen get the opportunity to work on research projects in established research labs at the University of Texas. There is a significant educational structure surrounding students who work in the FRI, and it really does give them a chance to dive into the pursuit of various goals in dedicated research labs.TIDES also has a faculty-facing unit called TIDES Instruct. This is the unit that I&#x27;m a part of. We work to support professional development for faculty that centers on science pedagogy. We support all the departments of the CNS in various ways. Course Design Institute, curriculum redesign efforts to ensure that the curricula are student centered and take the best of what is known about teaching in STEM and present it in a way that faculty can readily implement strategies in their course to improve and enhance their teaching.
 

 
 
 <figure class="richtext-image full-width">
 <img alt="MIT Office of Engineering Outreach Programs (OEOP).jpeg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" width="800"
 src="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/media/images/MIT_Office_of_Engineering_Outreach_Programs_OE.width-800.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>Monica Hall-Porter (second from the left) assisting students in the MIT MITES (Minority Introduction to Engineering &amp; Science) genomics course in 2019. Image courtesy of the MIT Office of Engineering Outreach Programs (OEOP)<div class="credit"></div></figcaption>
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 KN: Throughout your career how have students responded to experiential learning? Could you describe some of the impacts?
 

 
 MHP: When I was a graduate student and a postdoc, I had multiple opportunities to support undergraduate students who were completing summer research experiences and internship experiences in the labs where I worked. What I will say is that just like in a traditional classroom, we have what I call ‘light bulb moments&#x27; where students really start to connect the dots regarding biological processes or phenomena that they&#x27;re learning about. Not only are students learning about a process, but then they also have the ability to get hands-on experience with the process, and it really does help to solidify learning in a lot of ways.With the Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES) program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), I just saw students come alive in the lab! One example was with a genomics course I was teaching in conjunction with the MITES program. In this course, students do a skin microbiome project where they swab their skin and put it on what we call a bacteriological media plate. They grow the microbes that are on their skin. Through a set of steps, they use bioinformatics and DNA sequencing to identify the microbes present. Students learn about the importance of the skin microbiome and how the organisms that grow on us actually support our body systems, not only on the skin, but also in the gut, and the lungs even, which are also hot areas of research as it relates to the human microbiome. After taking part in hands-on experiences like this one, students are just hooked on STEM! Again, the experiences that are provided don&#x27;t have to be grand in scope. They can be entire unit exercises or they can be small experiences, but anything we can do to get students in a hands-on experience, again, enriches their future in STEM careers.
 

 
 
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 <img alt="MHP Physio Class.png" class="richtext-image full-width" height="400" width="800"
 src="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/media/images/MHP_Physio_Class.width-800.png"/>
 <figcaption>Monica Hall-Porter examining a synthetic cadaver as part of an anatomy and physiology laboratory class she taught at Lasell University. Image courtesy of Monica Hall-Porter<div class="credit"></div></figcaption>
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 KN: Is this something that could be adapted to high school students and not just university students?
 

 
 MHP: Absolutely! I believe there&#x27;s always a way to infuse hands-on learning into the experience. I&#x27;d love to see more of that across the country. Look at the virtual field trip that we are doing, experiences like this make science accessible. I&#x27;ve done science outreach with students who are as young as five years old. There is joy in that experience, not only for the student, but also for the educator.There&#x27;s an organization based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that is near and dear to my heart. It&#x27;s called the Science Club for Girls. When I was a postdoc at Tufts University, one of my very good friends invited me to the club. I went with her and ended up being a volunteer and mentor scientist. During one of those sessions with the young ladies, we actually dissected cow hearts. Now fast forward several years, that was a foundational experience for one of those girls who was there because now she&#x27;s a senior neuroscience major getting ready to graduate from Harvard University and I believe go on to medical school. She cherishes that experience as this moment where she realized that not only is a STEM career possible, but she also knows people who are doing this work and they support her.
 

 
 

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 &quot;She was really able to develop not only an appreciation for science, but a sense of belonging in STEM, which is very important as it relates to fostering students to go on to pursue careers in science.&quot;
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 <img alt="MHP discussing different types of chemical bonds with middle school student participants with the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts STEM enrichment event (2012 or 2013)..jpeg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="600" width="800"
 src="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/media/images/MHP_discussing_different_types_of_chemical_bon.width-800.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>Monica Hall-Porter (left) instructs middle school participants to hold hands to demonstrate the different types of chemical bonds during an event with the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts. Image courtesy of Monica Hall-Porter<div class="credit"></div></figcaption>
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 KN: Would you say that being able to provide these experiences is one of the most rewarding aspects of your work?
 

 
 MHP: The work really did follow me straight from my office in a university setting to the community where I facilitated hands-on science experiences for young folks. It definitely is one of the more rewarding aspects of my career because I do get to see students really come alive with regard to their love of STEM. But conversely, the other side of that is the ability to help faculty to facilitate their experiences in their own classroom that promote the best practices in STEM education. It&#x27;s also very rewarding because it tells me that I have the ability to communicate scientifically important messages to a lot of different audiences. I believe that that&#x27;s a very important skill to have, one that moves the work of promoting best practices in science education. I can&#x27;t help but be proud of that. So those are the two things that I&#x27;m most proud of with regard to how my career has progressed.
 

 
 KN: Thinking about how the pandemic has affected experiential learning opportunities, I&#x27;d love to hear your thoughts on how educators might adapt.
 

 
 MHP: As we engage virtually, I would encourage educators to still pursue experiential learning, but do it on a micro scale. Keep it simple. Take advantage of resources that you already have that are readily available. For example, on our virtual field trip we are going to extract DNA with household materials. Not anything grand and ornate, but enough to keep interest stimulated; it&#x27;s really important, and it’s something that can be done easily. Additionally, at all levels, whether it&#x27;s during an unprecedented pandemic or a time that we would consider more normal, take advantage of opportunities that come your way. If you are in the position to ask for an enrichment activity or something that you want to do, don&#x27;t hesitate to ask. My son&#x27;s teacher has this activity that she uses called “fast finishers.” If students finish their work before everyone else, then they have this packet that they can go to that provides enrichment, or an activity for them to try to work on while they&#x27;re waiting for the class to progress.Whether educators are resource endowed or not, throughout this pandemic I have been absolutely floored and inspired by the work that educators at the K-12 level, and also higher ed, are doing to facilitate learning in the pandemic. I don&#x27;t think we can say enough about what our teachers and professors are doing at this time. For a lot of students, it is providing a perpetual beacon of hope, one that they can achieve, and will achieve. And I don&#x27;t think we can appreciate that enough!
 

 
 This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
 

 
 
 <figure class="richtext-image full-width"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_zIzWyjWI8" target="_blank">
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 <figcaption>For more at-home science ideas, watch Monica Hall-Porter’s virtual field trip!<div class="credit"></div></figcaption>
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Dr. Monica Hall Porter and David Pogue BTE.png

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