John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
Six Stanford students are cycling across the United States to promote STEM education among school children. The Stanford Spokes team embarked on their journey from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., on June 19. Over the course of 75 days, they will conduct hands-on workshops in ten states.
The 2024 Spokes team comprises four rising sophomores, a rising senior, and a recent graduate. They plan to teach STEM-focused workshops at Boys and Girls Clubs day camps, libraries, and for the first time, at Stanford Sierra Camp. This year’s emphasis is on experiential learning with each member creating and leading a workshop.
Workshops include activities such as making slime stress balls, creating “elephant toothpaste,” and participating in a physics escape room. Eva Matentsian, a human biology major, plans to inspire participants with her passion for genetics through a workshop on extracting DNA from strawberries. “I’m excited to do a miniature version of what we do at our lab working with CRISPR and DNA. I want to empower the kids we’ll be teaching to feel like they can be scientists too,” Matentsian said.
Will Yu, another team member who majors in data sciences and minors in education, expressed his excitement about the trip. “I felt kind of stuck in some ways. This was a really good summer to do something out of my comfort zone – to branch out from the 9-to-5 desk job research I’ve been accustomed to over the past few years,” Yu said.
Stanford Spokes originated in 2013 with students from MIT, Harvard, and Columbia aiming to bring STEM education nationwide. Stanford established its own team in 2018. Initially student-led and unaffiliated with the university, it is now sponsored by Stanford Digital Education (SDE) for the second consecutive year.
Cindy Berhtram, SDE’s director of project strategy and operations, explained that their mission aligns well with Spokes’ goals: “SDE is a group that’s very dedicated to teaching and learning, especially for groups who may be underserved or historically marginalized.” She added that university affiliation has streamlined operations for the team by providing administrative support.
With SDE's assistance last year’s cohort collaborated with this year's team on developing a cohesive training plan focused on wellness. Berhtram emphasized the importance of self-awareness for undertaking such challenges: “We want this year’s team members to focus on their own well-being – just having that awareness of self.”
The public can follow the team's progress via daily blog posts and Instagram @stanfordspokes.
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