February 2024

Sorting fruit flies

Experiments have begun

Projects at Lincoln-West School of Science and Health are now in full swing! Students began working with their model organisms and following the experimental protocols that were written by our volunteer Scientific Officers. The experimental plans were written specifically for the grant that each student submitted to Rise Up for “funding”. We have 18 projects in the 6 classes that we serve at Lincoln-West. Students are researching a variety of topics including social anxiety, sleep deprivation, caffeine, and autism using a wide range of model organism that include C. elegans, hermit crabs, Drosophila, Planaria (see below), and earthworms! Once a week we visit the students with a handful of volunteer Teaching Fellows to help advise and troubleshoot any problems that may arise for the students. It is a joy to see the students work in groups to accomplish a goal together. They are able to follow their own curiosities and truly take ownership of the project that they are a part of. We have noticed that students blossom during different stages of the program. Whether it is writing grants and reports, doing hands on experiments, working with peers, or presenting their work the students have the opportunity to engage with the program in a number of ways.

We have been busy working behind the scenes preparing for experiments to begin at Garrett Morgan School of Engineering and Innovation. These students submitted their grant proposals to us at the end of January to be reviewed by dozens of professional scientists at a "study section” held by Rise Up in order to choose the projects to fund. We have selected 8 projects and have begun ordering supplies and equipment for the students. These experiments will begin on March 6th- Stay tuned for more information!

Planaria

Grant awards

We are extremely grateful to have received grant award notices from both the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation and the Cleveland Foundation to support our programming and operations in 2024! Our “Life as a Scientist”, Rise Up Scholars, and STEM Teaching Enrichment programs would not be possible without the generous support we receive from these two wonderful institutions. Their trust and support provides Rise Up with the resources to bring immersive scientific experience to students in Cleveland. This helps us build toward our goal of bringing equity to science education resulting in a diversity of thought and experience in science careers.

If you would like to support Rise Up: Northeast Ohio, please visit the link below. Your contribution would go directly toward supplies and equipment in Lincoln-West School of Science and Health or Garrett Morgan School of Engineering and Innovation.