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Worlds of Connections: Engaging Youth with Health Research through Network Science and Stories in Augmented Reality

Award Number: R25GM129836
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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Worlds of Connections: Engaging Youth with Health Research through Network Science and Stories in Augmented Reality - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT This application requests support to enable a team of experienced science educators and biomedical and behavioral health network scientists to develop and implement the Worlds of Connections curriculum. Most middle school students are familiar with patient care-related health careers (e.g., nurses, dentists, surgeons), but few know about emerging careers in network science that can be leveraged to improve population health. This innovative and research-based science program is strategically designed to increase awareness of, understanding of, and interest in the important role of network science for health. This project will design learning activities that incite interest in network science applications to biomedical and public health research. The long- term goal is to enhance the diversity of the bio-behavioral and biomedical workforce by increasing interest in network science among members of underrepresented minority communities and to promote public understanding of the benefits of NIH-funded research for public health. The goal of this application is to identify and create resources that will overcome barriers to network science uptake among underserved minority middle school youth. The central hypothesis is that the technology-rich field of network science will attract segments of today’s youth who remain uninterested in conventional, bio-centric health fields. Project activities are designed to improve understanding of how informal STEM experiences with network science in health research can increase STEM identities, STEM possible selves, and STEM career aspirations among youth from groups historically underrepresented in STEM disciplines at the center of health science research (Aim 1) and create emerging media resources via augmented reality technologies to stimulate broad interest in and understanding of the role of network science in biomedical and public health research (Aim 2). A team led by University of Nebraska-Lincoln sociologists will partner with the University of Nebraska at Omaha; state museums; centers for math, science, and emerging media arts; NIH-funded network scientists; educators; community learning centers at local public schools; learning researchers; undergraduates; software professionals; artists; augmented reality professionals; storytellers; and evaluation experts to accomplish these goals and ensure out of school learning will reinforce Next Generation Science Standards. The Worlds of Connections project is expected to impact 35,250 youth and 20,570 educators in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska by: adding network science modules to ongoing 6th-8th-grade afterschool STEM clubs in community learning centers; adding network science for health resources to a summer graduate course on “activating youth STEM identities” for sixth to twelfth grade STEM teachers; connecting teachers with local network scientists; creating free, downloadable, high-quality emerging media arts-enhanced stories; and publishing peer-reviewed research on the potential of network science to attract youth to health careers. Coupled with the dissemination plan, the project design and activities will be replicable, allowing this project to serve as a model to guide other projects in STEM communication.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = -$41 )
2025	2022	BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA	2200 VINE ST # 830861	LINCOLN	NE	68503	LANCASTER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	5	3/13/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$41
														Subtotal = -$41

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $251,587 )
2022	2022	BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA	2200 VINE ST BOX 830861	LINCOLN	NE	68503	LANCASTER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	5	8/10/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$251,587
2022	2021	BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA	2200 VINE ST BOX 830861	LINCOLN	NE	68503	LANCASTER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	4	3/21/2022	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
														Subtotal = $251,587

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $307,663 )
2021	2021	BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA	2200 VINE ST BOX 830861	LINCOLN	NE	68503	LANCASTER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	4	7/30/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$253,663
2021	2021	BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA	2200 VINE ST BOX 830861	LINCOLN	NE	68503	LANCASTER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	4	9/14/2021	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$54,000
														Subtotal = $307,663

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $257,357 )
2020	2020	BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA	2200 VINE ST BOX 830861	LINCOLN	NE	68503	LANCASTER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	3	8/3/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$257,357
														Subtotal = $257,357

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $262,824 )
2019	2019	BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA	2200 VINE ST BOX 830861	LINCOLN	NE	68503	LANCASTER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	2	8/14/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$262,824
														Subtotal = $262,824

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $210,276 )
2018	2018	BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA	2200 VINE ST BOX 830861	LINCOLN	NE	68503	LANCASTER	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	8/21/2018	NEW	$210,276
														Subtotal = $210,276

Grand Total All Awards = $1,289,666

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Worlds of Connections: Engaging Youth with Health Research through Network Science and Stories in Augmented Reality

Award Number: R25GM129836

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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