Sharing Science

For Natalie Small, science isn’t just a field of study. It’s a passion she hopes to impart to others.

"I love science. I've always loved how it allows you to apply concepts that you learn to assessing and solving real world problems," said Small, a UR sophomore who plans to major in biology.

This fall, she started to explore ways to share her love for STEM education with local students.

"One of the things that really made me want to pursue science, both as my major and also as my future career, was being exposed to it early on in my education," Small said. "I really wanted to provide that opportunity for students in the Richmond community."

After meeting with Blake Stack and Kim Dean-Anderson from the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) to discuss potential partners, Small reached out to St. Andrew’s School to share her idea for a new UR Science Explorers after-school program.

"Knowing that the school already had an existing relationship with Richmond was really good," Small said.

St. Andrew’s, a tuition-free school based in Oregon Hill, was enthusiastic about the program.

"Natalie did a lot of intentional work partnering with St. Andrew’s staff to determine the best rhythms, structures, and learning experiences for their students," said Stack, CCE senior associate director of student engagement.

Ultimately, St. Andrew’s scheduled three sessions for hands-on, experiment-based learning activities with UR Science Explorers.

"They’ve been amazing to work with, really communicative, really helpful, and have really just helped make this process really smooth," Small said.

During the sessions, St. Andrew’s students – from kindergarten to fifth grade – tackled creating marshmallow and spaghetti towers, paper roller coasters, and balloon-powered cars.

"I wanted projects that were interactive as possible, but also connected to science concepts, like physics and energy," Small said. "I also wanted to provide Richmond students the opportunity to be involved, because I really found it rewarding to become involved off campus and volunteering in the community."

Eight other UR students volunteered with the program over the course of the spring.

"I couldn't have asked for a better group of volunteers," Small said. "They were really great helping the kids, bringing the groups together and engaging every student."

Ash Dominguez leads after-school programming at St. Andrew’s and highlighted the “kindness, patience, and grace” that the UR students showed throughout each session.

"With each workshop, our students applied themselves and used their creativity to build something they were proud of," Dominquez said. "We had many of them request to take their structures home to show their families and for materials to build more." 

Being witness to the students’ learning was the highlight of the program for Small.

"I would say the thing I enjoy the most was really seeing the kids be engaged," Small said. "I loved seeing them work together. I love seeing their creative ideas. They even came up with things that I never would have thought of."

Small is excited to return to St. Andrew’s School next year, and in the future, potentially expand to other schools.

"I hope to start the process of making UR Science Explorers a registered student organization," Small said. "That way, I hope that we can have a more permanent presence on campus, not just while I'm here, but also after I graduate."

The leadership at St. Andrew’s School also understands the importance in investing in the future.

"Our students are at the beginning of their journeys to become engineers, urban planners, architects, artists," Dominquez said. "We truly thank the volunteers for facilitating those early experiences."