Engaging students in science education while tapping into their innate curiosity is a crucial aim for educators. This article presents a collaborative program between a botanical garden and public high school, aimed at engaging students in botany through authentic research experiences. Beginning in 10th grade and continuing through their…

We designed and evaluated a student laboratory workshop on plant-based vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The workshop focused on hands-on laboratory techniques, including DNA extraction from rice seeds, where the recombinant protein was produced, detection of the transgene, and basic concepts on how vaccines work in the human body to offer…

Integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) approach has been implemented all around the world. STEM approach highlights the integration of different STEM disciplines, the use of daily-life problems, and engineering design process, which provides a context for students to learn knowledge of STEM disciplines and apply the…

This paper discusses a K-12/university collaboration in which students participated in a four-day scenario-based summer STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) camp aimed at making difficult scientific concepts salient. This scenario, Jumpstart STEM-CSI: Chocolate Science Investigation (JSCSI), used open- and guided-inquiry…