Inclusivity
Introduction
<Our Objective>
Our team’s objective is to make synthetic biology—especially Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) technology—more inclusive and accessible to a wider range of people in society, especially groups that are often isolated in science fields, such as the elderly. Our ultimate goal is to reduce the gap between science and society by increasing awareness of biomedical innovation and encouraging engagement between these fields. Through this, we hope to promote a more inclusive understanding of science that values every individual’s perspective regardless of age, background, or educational level.
<Our Methods and Approach>
In order to achieve this, our team brainstormed educational sessions that are engaging, interactive, and accessible to many communities. For elderly participants, we prepared pamphlets, simple visual puzzles, and a brief presentation explaining LOC technology and Multiple Myeloma in clear and simple language. We used large fonts, visual components, and even added familiar songs to create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. While our main efforts focused on the elderly, we also considered broader inclusivity activities by keeping other minority groups in mind, such as LGBTQ+ and visually impaired communities.
<Our Results and Accomplishments>
The activities successfully encouraged participation and curiosity among elderly participants. They gained a clearer understanding of LOC technology and its significance to biomedical fields, particularly in studying and diagnosing Multiple Myeloma and other cancer diseases. The session helped break down communication barriers between elderly people and provided us with insights into how underrepresented groups perceive biomedical technologies.
<Summary and Reflection>
Through this experience, our team learned that inclusivity in science requires empathy, engagement, and respect for diverse groups in this society. By interacting with various communities, we fostered understanding and trust. This project reinforced the idea that scientific innovation is most meaningful when it is inclusive, accessible, and shaped by the perspectives of all groups.
Minority Group
<Elderly>
Reason Behind Selection
In biomedical research, the elderly are a diverse and often underrepresented group, and are also the population most affected by Multiple Myeloma, with an average diagnosis age of 69. Older adults face multiple barriers to accessibility, including difficulty using digital tools, mobility or health limitations, communication challenges such as hearing or visual impairments, and exclusion from studies due to fixed stereotypes of their interests or capabilities. These factors can lead to their underrepresentation in data, limiting the relevance and accuracy of models, including microfluidic systems designed to study the bone marrow. By engaging the elderly in our inclusivity activities, providing accessible materials and support, we aim to incorporate their perspectives into our project. This approach reduces communication barriers and promotes a more inclusive scientific process.
Activity process/Summary
To promote awareness of Multiple Myeloma among the elderly, our team organized an interactive educational session planned to make biomedical information accessible and engaging to the minority group. We began by creating a brief presentation and video introducing the concept of Multiple Myeloma and LOC technology and explaining its advantages, particularly how it can help in early diagnosis and personalized treatment for elderly patients. To support better understanding, we also prepared printed pamphlets summarizing key information in simple language and visuals and our team’s project and goal.
To make the session more engaging, we designed simple puzzles featuring images of the LOC system, bone marrow, and blood cells. Those visual and easy materials helped participants connect scientific ideas with familiar concepts. We ended the session by singing a Korean children’s song together, which helped create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and allowed us to connect more personally with the elderly.
What we gained from this activity
Through this activity, we learned the significance of making science genuinely inclusive. Many elderly participants expressed curiosity and appreciation for our efforts to explain lab-on-a-chip technology and its effectiveness. By engaging directly with the elderly, we gained valuable insights into their perspectives on biotechnologies and the challenges they face in getting access to health information. This activity triggered us to find ways to reduce communication barriers and shape our future outreach related to biomedical technologies.
<LGBTQ+>
LGBTQ+ people are individuals of many races, genders, and cultures, covering a wide range of identities such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and nonbinary etc. Due to a long history of discrimination, many LGBTQ+ individuals may have a lack of trust in scientific research. Assumptions about gender and sexuality in research protocols or underrepresentation of LGBTQ+ scientists on research teams can create environments that are less inclusive.
<Visually Impaired>
Being visually impaired is not limited to a specific race, age, or background, and it exists on a spectrum—some individuals retain partial vision, while others are completely blind. Different degrees of visual impairment require different types of support, and this diversity can intersect with other impairments, such as hearing loss. Individuals may also have varying educational experiences; some may have learned braille, while others have not. In STEM education, reliance on visual diagrams, color-coded data, and microscopy can create barriers to learning and participation, and laboratory equipment often lacks accessible guides, leaving visually impaired researchers dependent on assistance. Communication is also a challenge, as scientific conferences and meetings rarely provide audio descriptions or tactile displays, isolating participants from collaboration. Clinical trials and testing are often difficult for visually impaired individuals due to safety or accessibility concerns.
Podcast
To further promote inclusivity and accessibility, our team created a podcast and uploaded it to our team’s social media, providing an engaging way for a wide audience to learn about our project. Podcasts include explanations of key words such as Multiple Myeloma, Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) technology, and its applications in studying and treating Multiple Myeloma. To reach a broader, international audience and ensure accessibility for non-English speakers, we translated these videos into three different languages: French, Korean, and Swedish. These efforts allowed us to share scientific knowledge with diverse communities and provide broader information for people of different ages, cultures, and linguistic backgrounds to engage with our project.
