I am professor and chair of Sociology at the University of Nebraska. I have been working with Judy Diamond and her team since 2006. Through this connection I learned that applying Sociological theories and methods to questions about effective dissemination of emerging health science to broader publics and engaging youth in science is part of a whole field I had not known about – learning research. Working with a team that is seeking to understand fundamental processes and successful interventions related to science engagement and identity has been thrilling. We focus on social psychological, cultural, and structural dimensions of social interaction (including social networks) because efforts at any one level (e.g. institutional, interactional, or individual) have not been successful. I see efforts to removing artificial social barriers to science engagement (e.g. based on race, class, and gender) as contributing to reducing social inequality and empowering people from groups often marginalized (sometimes unintentionally) by media, entertainment, schools, and communities.

Associated SEPA Project(s)

• Biology of Human: Understanding Ourselves through the Lens of Current Biomedical Research
  R25OD010506-01 : 07/01/2012 - 06/30/2017
• 
  Worlds of Connections: Engaging Youth with Health Research through Network Science and Stories in Augmented Reality
  R25GM129836-01 : 09/01/2018 - 07/31/2023