Inspiring the next generation of global health dreamers and doers.
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Through STEM Global, the Washington Global Health Alliance and its members are inspiring and preparing the next generation of global health researchers, practitioners, and champions.
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Through the generous support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we have worked with our partners to create a STEM Global Curriculum that involves a collection of instructional materials for middle and high school educators.
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Students can experience global health in action and learn how STEM skills solve the world’s most complex problems and increase health equity.
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Teachers can explore new ways to integrate global health into their classrooms and champion global health opportunities for their students.
Click below to learn more about STEM Global programs for high school students, undergraduate students, and teachers, and to explore additional resources
COVID-19 Testing and Inequities
FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER’S SCIENCE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP
Brief Overview: In this seven-lesson unit, students develop an understanding of molecular biology through an exploration of viral and antibody testing used for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infections, which causes the disease known as COVID-19. This unit engages students in learning about molecular biology through an authentic, contemporary, and highly relevant topic. In this unit, students answer the questions: How do you know if you have COVID-19? How do you know if you have already had a COVID-19 infection in the past? and Who gets tested for COVID-19? Students explore patient case studies to make a diagnosis and further recommendations for their care. Two wet labs are included which use gel electrophoresis and an indirect ELISA. Students also learn about and discuss health inequities and bioethical issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The unit incorporates opportunities for engaging with productive uncertainty, developing scientific argumentation practices, and considering bioethical implications of scientific discoveries and policy decisions. The last lesson in this unit, Lesson 7: Policies and the Nature of Science, is currently in development. All lesson plans include suggested adaptations for remote instruction settings. www.fredhutch.org
Diagnostic Detective: HIV ELISA
FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER’S SCIENCE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP
Brief Overview: In this short unit, students investigate the importance of HIV testing and how scientists have designed tests that utilize natural immune proteins called antibodies. Students develop questions around why it is that 25% of people infected with HIV do not know they are infected. Students investigate the societal pressures that inform these decisions. Students can also challenge their own assumptions about HIV. Through learning about HIV and HIV testing, students develop an understanding of the immune system and protein structure and function, as well as developing the scientific practice of planning out an investigation. www.fredhutch.org
Code Cracking: Decoding Cancer Causing Mutations
NWABR
Brief Overview: This lesson is intended to be integrated into a High School Biology genetics unit and allows students to investigate and understand that cancer is a result of an accumulation of mutations in the genes that control cell proliferation. Cancer has a global impact, impacting lives around the world. However, cancer (both rates of incidences and cancer related deaths) disproportionately affects people in different countries of the globe. Students will learn about risk factors and prevention strategies to help them unpack some of the reasons for these disparities. In the culminating mini-project, students will conduct online research on the global disparities of cancer by investigating either a type of cancer across multiple countries/regions or the rates of different types of cancer in a single country/region. Optional extension activities are included. nwabr.org
Data Driven: Investigating the Human Health Effects of Air Pollution in Washington State, Middle School Version
IHME
Brief Overview: In this data science lesson, students practice analyzing and interpreting data in order to answer an investigative question about air pollution in Washington State. Student groups first collaborate to graph air pollution data from a city in Washington. They then compile data as a class in order to observe trends and patterns across cities to make a claim about whether the time of year affects the amount of air pollution in Washington. Through this lesson, students will develop an understanding of foundational data science principles and recognize techniques for manipulating and analyzing data. Students will also gain skills in interpreting trends and patterns in data and writing evidence-based claims. In addition, students will gain an understanding of how air pollution affects human health and the global epidemiology of outcomes attributed to air pollution. The high school version of this lesson was originally developed by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), an institute affiliated with the University of Washington focused on health metrics sciences. As such, this lesson attempts to introduce students to fundamental data sciences practices that are the work of scientists across fields, including global health. This middle school adaptation of the lesson was created by Laughing Crow Curriculum. healthdata.org
Data Driven: Investigating the Human Health Effects of Air Pollution in Washington State, High School Version
IHME
Brief Overview: This lesson explores past, current, and future trends of air pollution in Washington State and provides opportunities for students To better understand the phenomenon through intensive interaction and Manipulation of data using spreadsheet software. Through this lesson, Students will develop an understanding of foundational data science Principles and recognize techniques for manipulating and analyzing data. In Particular, students will develop skills in vetting data quality and generating Basic descriptive statistics, including calculating mean, median, min, and Max. Students will also gain skills in interpreting trends and patterns in data And making informed and evidence-based conclusions. In addition, students will gain an understanding of how air pollution effects human health and the Global epidemiology of outcomes attributed to air pollution. This lesson was developed by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), an institute affiliated with the University of Washington focused on Health metrics sciences. As such, this lesson attempts to introduce students to fundamental data sciences practices that are the work of scientists across Fields, including global health. Healthdata.org
Special Delivery: Design a Vaccine Delivery Solution
PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER’S TINKER TANK
Brief Overview: In this data science lesson, students practice analyzing and interpreting data in order to answer an investigative question about air pollution in Washington State. Student groups first collaborate to graph air pollution data from a city in Washington. They then compile data as a class in order to observe trends and patterns across cities to make a claim about whether the time of year affects the amount of air pollution in Washington. Through this lesson, students will develop an understanding of foundational data science principles and recognize techniques for manipulating and analyzing data. Students will also gain skills in interpreting trends and patterns in data and writing evidence-based claims. In addition, students will gain an understanding of how air pollution affects human health and the global epidemiology of outcomes attributed to air pollution. The high school version of this lesson was originally developed by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), an institute affiliated with the University of Washington focused on health metrics sciences. As such, this lesson attempts to introduce students to fundamental data sciences practices that are the work of scientists across fields, including global health. This middle school adaptation of the lesson was created by Laughing Crow Curriculum. healthdata.org
Drone Drop Challenge
PATH
Brief Overview: An authentic global health challenge is the delivery of critical medical supplies (e.g., vaccines, blood products, etc.) to remote communities accessible only by foot, bicycle, or motorbike. In this engineering design challenge—a variation on the classic egg drop challenge students work in teams to design, prototype, and test a vaccine container that will be delivered via drone technology. Students first explore commercially available delivery technologies and develop a list of requirements for the delivery technology. They then take on the role of a global health non-profit that has received a grant to develop delivery solutions based on drone technology. Students then work in teams to design, build, and test a vaccine container to integrate with the existing drone technology, while considering project criteria and constraints. Before testing their prototype (egg drop), teams present a one-minute pitch for their design solution. This activity represents a partial design cycle, but could be extended to include re design, re-test, and optimize phases. path.org
Exploring Pathways to Global Health Careers
STEM GLOBAL
Brief Overview: This lesson engages students in exploring careers in the global health sector. The goal is to broaden students’ awareness of the types of careers available within the field and to develop an understanding of the educational pathways required for these types of careers. Students begin by reading about careers in global health. They then work in groups to explore the website of a global health organization and share their findings with the class. Next, students explore a careers pathway poster and choose a career to research, using a set of provided fact sheets and additional online resources. They share their findings in small groups and then summarize what they learned about these careers in an Exit Ticket. This lesson can easily be adapted for both synchronous and asynchronous remote instruction settings. wghalliance.org/initiative/stem-global/
Pathways to Global Health Careers Poster & Fact Sheets
STEM GLOBAL
Brief Overview: Global health organizations currently employ more than 14,000 people just in Washington State. The global health workforce—in the U.S. and worldwide—attracts people with diverse backgrounds, as it takes an interdisciplinary approach to solve some of the world’s most complex problems. This Pathways to Global Health Careers poster features a beautiful infographic that maps the broad variety of careers that make up the global health sector and the education required to land them. A set of Global Health Careers Fact Sheets accompany the poster, providing information on featured jobs across eight different career and technical education career clusters. Featured information on each job includes median salary, job description, minimum education requirements, certification/licensure, and internships/ apprenticeships/volunteer opportunities. wghalliance.org/initiative/stem-global/
Download the STEM Global Curriculum
If you have new opportunities or resources for students or teachers to share through STEM Global, email us at kayla.jan@wghalliance.org
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WGHA’s STEM Global program is made possible through generous support from
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.