An idea to explore: How an interdisciplinary undergraduate course exploring a global health challenge in molecular detail enabled science communication and collaboration in diverse audiences

Shuchismita Dutta, Jennifer Jiang, Sutapa Ghosh, Shriya Patel, Charmi Bhikadiya, Robert Lowe, Maria Voigt, David Goodsell, Christine Zardecki, Stephen Burley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Communication and collaboration are key science competencies that support sharing of scientific knowledge with experts and non-experts alike. On the one hand, they facilitate interdisciplinary conversations between students, educators, and researchers, while on the other they improve public awareness, enable informed choices, and impact policy decisions. Herein, we describe an interdisciplinary undergraduate course focused on using data from various bioinformatics data resources to explore the molecular underpinnings of diabetes mellitus (Types 1 and 2) and introducing students to science communication. Building on course materials and original student-generated artifacts, a series of collaborative activities engaged students, educators, researchers, healthcare professionals and community members in exploring, learning about, and discussing the molecular bases of diabetes. These collaborations generated novel educational materials and approaches to learning and presenting complex ideas about major global health challenges in formats accessible to diverse audiences.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalBiochemistry and Molecular Biology Education
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2022
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Keywords

  • Global Health
  • Protein Data Bank
  • collaboration
  • community education
  • diabetes mellitus
  • educational resource development
  • interdisciplinary course
  • molecular structures
  • open education resource
  • science communication

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