by Gail Kuhnlein, communications specialist, University of Michigan, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
As in past years, members of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology volunteered their time and talents to the third Feria de Ciencias, a science fair held completely in Spanish for bilingual school children.
The Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) partners with En Nuestra Lengua (In Our Language), an organization that develops academic skills in Spanish for bilingual children, to host the annual event. The 2020 event was held in March at Bach Elementary School, Ann Arbor. En Nuestra Lengua students are from schools in the Ann Arbor and Detroit areas.
Kristel Sánchez, an EEB graduate student, helped organize and coordinate Feria de Ciencias where activities ranged from ecology to neurobiology to chemistry. Some 200 schoolchildren from 4 to 12 years old rotated between stations featuring “a huge range of topics and activities,” Sánchez said. They explored a sheep’s brain to learn about neurons and the brain, they studied cells under a microscope, investigated fossils and learned about predators.
“The goal of the event is first, to expose kids to science, motivate them to learn about science and to be curious about the world around them,” Sánchez said. “But also, we want them to see role models who are like them, who have a similar background, and who speak their native language.”
University of Michigan undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, 22 altogether, volunteered to make this event successful. Taking part from EEB were graduate students Eric Gulson-Castillo and Siria Gámez and postdoctoral fellow, Monica Acosta.
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