RESEARCH
STEM Education
Solving global issues, such as climate change and pandemics, will require a diverse coalition of well- trained scientists. Tapping into the growing US Latinx population for our future STEM workforce will provide fresh perspectives on scientific thought and directives. Although Latinx comprise the fastest- growing ethnic minority group in the U.S., only 8.9 % graduate with a bachelor’s degree in STEM. Fundamental to the success of Latinx students in STEM is recognizing their embodied cultural capital wealth (CCW) as an asset. By leveraging these assets students draw strength from their Latinx heritage to develop their STEM-cultural wealth (SCW), including scientific literacy, scientific disposition, and knowledge about the transferability of science into the labor market. Culturally Relevant Education (CRE), used in the classroom to capitalize on students’ CCW, has been examined with successful outcomes in K-12. However, little work has been done on the effectiveness of CRE at institutions of higher learning. Our research will address this critical need by developing a theoretical model that will advance our understanding of the CCW of Latinx students and how these mediate the link between SCW and Latinx persistence in STEM fields.
Osmoregulation Physiology and Ecology of Insects
We are interested in the osmoregulation biology and ecology of juvenile and adult insects as it relates to changes in environmental humidity predicted by global climate change. We use whole animal measurements of metabolism and link these responses to the ecology of study species. Lab members working on projects related to this topic have focused on the effects environmental humidity has on: foraging behavior, energetic cost associated with physiological performance, body size, respiratory patterns, etc...
Lake Ecology and Invertebrate Physiology
Working with community leaders in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala we are investigating changes in the water quality of Lake Atitlan and how these affect the ecology, physiology and behavior of aquatic invertebrates. Lab members working on this long term project collaborate with teachers and students from Centro Educativo Pavarotti - Fundacion Rigoberta Menchu Tum in San Lucas Toliman on a citizen's science project to collect data on the lake's water quality and complete insect surveys. Lab members then use these data to design their own projects within insect ecology, physiology and/or behavior.
