To ensure inclusivity and accessibility in our research process, we held all our stakeholder interviews online using platforms like Zoom and Google Meet. This allowed us to connect with a wider range of voices, including those who may have faced barriers in attending in-person meetings due to distance, transportation limitations, or health concerns. By meeting online, we provided an accessible, flexible, and comfortable space for participants to share their experiences and perspectives. We also invited other individuals to join these sessions and learn more about ALS with us.
Stakeholder Interviews
Purpose
Through these virtual stakeholder interviews, we aimed to gather diverse insights that would strengthen the direction and impact of our project. By increasing accessibility, we ensured that stakeholders from various backgrounds could contribute equally in shaping our initiatives. This inclusive approach not only enriched the quality of feedback but also demonstrated our commitment to reducing barriers in scientific communication and community engagement.
Library Workshops
We held library sessions for students, especially for younger children who may not have the opportunity to learn about science in depth. We visited multiple libraries throughout San Diego to reach as wide of an audience as possible, teaching about diverse topics such as plastic-eating bacteria, edible microbes, and gene therapy.
Purpose
By hosting library sessions at multiple locations within San Diego, we were able to reach a wider audience. We made sure to go beyond our neighborhood to more underprivileged areas to inspire the next generation of scientists. Although these workshops were targeted toward younger students, they remained open to anyone interested — including older students and adults — fostering an inclusive and community-oriented learning space.
Accessible Education
Audiobook
We translated our book, Perry The Plasmid: Into The Bioverse: A “Choose Your Own Adventure” Children’s Book, into an audiobook currently available in English. Through this audiobook, we aim to break down barriers to learning by providing children with different ways to access crucial scientific information. This initiative supports not only visually impaired individuals but also auditory learners and children from diverse educational backgrounds.
Purpose
By expanding our children’s book into an audio format, we can reach a broader audience and ensure that no child is excluded from learning about synthetic biology topics. This promotes inclusion for learners of all types and abilities.
Book Translations
We translated our book into two additional languages — Spanish and Korean. It can now be found on Kindle in these languages alongside the English version, making the story and its educational content accessible to children from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Purpose
Through these translations, we aim to ensure that language is not a barrier to learning about synthetic biology. Making the book multilingual empowers children from diverse communities to engage with science in a fun and interactive way, promoting inclusivity on a global scale.
Podcast
We created a podcast series focused on ALS, sharing insights from our research, stakeholder interviews, and reflections on how this disease impacts communities. Available on Spotify, the podcast provides an engaging and accessible platform to spread awareness about ALS in an easy-to-follow, conversational format.
Purpose
Our ALS podcast amplifies the voices of patients, caregivers, and researchers while making complex scientific information more approachable. As an audio-based medium, it expands access for auditory learners and broader audiences, fostering empathy and community understanding.