Fostering science awareness through outreach workshops: bridging the gap between science and society
ABSTRACT Nurturing scientific understanding is the foundation for fostering community-driven solutions to pressing global challenges such as public health. Educating young minds is one of the most effective ways to build resilient, self-sufficient, and sustainable societies ready to confront issues...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Society for Microbiology
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00120-25 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849229998741782528 |
|---|---|
| author | Harshita Agarwal Jayesh Dhaiya Bhumika Pippal Shaheen Hasan Neha Jain |
| author_facet | Harshita Agarwal Jayesh Dhaiya Bhumika Pippal Shaheen Hasan Neha Jain |
| author_sort | Harshita Agarwal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Nurturing scientific understanding is the foundation for fostering community-driven solutions to pressing global challenges such as public health. Educating young minds is one of the most effective ways to build resilient, self-sufficient, and sustainable societies ready to confront issues of limited awareness about the microbial world, good hygiene practices, and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a critical concern in India. This paper details the unique science outreach initiative, led by an all-women team, designed to enhance awareness about the unseen microbial world, their importance in our daily life, good hygiene practices, and the growing threat of AMR. Conducted over 2 years, our team delivered 23 hands-on workshops across five districts in Rajasthan (India), engaging school students and biology undergraduates. Our workshops provided a fascinating window into the invisible world of microorganisms and their role in ecosystems while also driving home the dangers of antibiotic misuse and AMR. In the first series, we offered hands-on experiences that demystified microbes and the necessity of good hygiene practices. The second series of our workshop specifically targeted AMR, with activities to raise awareness about the appropriate use of antibiotics and the consequences of misuse. In addition to promoting scientific awareness, our outreach also emphasized "frugal science," that is, using low-cost, accessible methods to explore complex phenomena. This proved to be a wonderful pedagogical tool, making science approachable for students from diverse backgrounds. Positive feedback from students and the scientific community demonstrates the efficacy of our outreach program, as more than 800 students benefited from our initiative. Our initiative made science more approachable, inspiring students to apply their knowledge to real-world health challenges while fostering scientific curiosity, societal engagement, and empowerment to contribute to the scientific community. Furthermore, our initiative contributes to the groundwork to address global health threats like AMR while serving as a model for taking science to society. We also provide a set of practical tips and tools for educators and outreach practitioners seeking to adapt our approach. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2e3bf74a15d3431d931f4dce725696eb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1935-7877 1935-7885 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-2e3bf74a15d3431d931f4dce725696eb2025-08-21T13:02:32ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyJournal of Microbiology & Biology Education1935-78771935-78852025-08-0126210.1128/jmbe.00120-25Fostering science awareness through outreach workshops: bridging the gap between science and societyHarshita Agarwal0Jayesh Dhaiya1Bhumika Pippal2Shaheen Hasan3Neha Jain4Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Karwar, Rajasthan, IndiaI Love Jaisalmer- Unit of The I Love Foundation, Jaipur, Rajasthan, IndiaDepartment of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Karwar, Rajasthan, IndiaI Love Jaisalmer- Unit of The I Love Foundation, Jaipur, Rajasthan, IndiaDepartment of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Karwar, Rajasthan, IndiaABSTRACT Nurturing scientific understanding is the foundation for fostering community-driven solutions to pressing global challenges such as public health. Educating young minds is one of the most effective ways to build resilient, self-sufficient, and sustainable societies ready to confront issues of limited awareness about the microbial world, good hygiene practices, and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a critical concern in India. This paper details the unique science outreach initiative, led by an all-women team, designed to enhance awareness about the unseen microbial world, their importance in our daily life, good hygiene practices, and the growing threat of AMR. Conducted over 2 years, our team delivered 23 hands-on workshops across five districts in Rajasthan (India), engaging school students and biology undergraduates. Our workshops provided a fascinating window into the invisible world of microorganisms and their role in ecosystems while also driving home the dangers of antibiotic misuse and AMR. In the first series, we offered hands-on experiences that demystified microbes and the necessity of good hygiene practices. The second series of our workshop specifically targeted AMR, with activities to raise awareness about the appropriate use of antibiotics and the consequences of misuse. In addition to promoting scientific awareness, our outreach also emphasized "frugal science," that is, using low-cost, accessible methods to explore complex phenomena. This proved to be a wonderful pedagogical tool, making science approachable for students from diverse backgrounds. Positive feedback from students and the scientific community demonstrates the efficacy of our outreach program, as more than 800 students benefited from our initiative. Our initiative made science more approachable, inspiring students to apply their knowledge to real-world health challenges while fostering scientific curiosity, societal engagement, and empowerment to contribute to the scientific community. Furthermore, our initiative contributes to the groundwork to address global health threats like AMR while serving as a model for taking science to society. We also provide a set of practical tips and tools for educators and outreach practitioners seeking to adapt our approach.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00120-25RajasthanoutreachawarenessAMRFoldscopefrugal science |
| spellingShingle | Harshita Agarwal Jayesh Dhaiya Bhumika Pippal Shaheen Hasan Neha Jain Fostering science awareness through outreach workshops: bridging the gap between science and society Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education Rajasthan outreach awareness AMR Foldscope frugal science |
| title | Fostering science awareness through outreach workshops: bridging the gap between science and society |
| title_full | Fostering science awareness through outreach workshops: bridging the gap between science and society |
| title_fullStr | Fostering science awareness through outreach workshops: bridging the gap between science and society |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fostering science awareness through outreach workshops: bridging the gap between science and society |
| title_short | Fostering science awareness through outreach workshops: bridging the gap between science and society |
| title_sort | fostering science awareness through outreach workshops bridging the gap between science and society |
| topic | Rajasthan outreach awareness AMR Foldscope frugal science |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00120-25 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT harshitaagarwal fosteringscienceawarenessthroughoutreachworkshopsbridgingthegapbetweenscienceandsociety AT jayeshdhaiya fosteringscienceawarenessthroughoutreachworkshopsbridgingthegapbetweenscienceandsociety AT bhumikapippal fosteringscienceawarenessthroughoutreachworkshopsbridgingthegapbetweenscienceandsociety AT shaheenhasan fosteringscienceawarenessthroughoutreachworkshopsbridgingthegapbetweenscienceandsociety AT nehajain fosteringscienceawarenessthroughoutreachworkshopsbridgingthegapbetweenscienceandsociety |