Every year, ASM offers small grants, up to $500, to members who are interested in organizing or participating in public science events in their communities.
2022 Recipients
Karen Bushaw-Newton (Northern Virginia Community College)
The engaged children in the greater Northern Virginia K-12 community with an interest in STEM, sparking their curiosity and encouraging them to pursue a future as a STEM student, as well as a lifelong interest in science and education. Dr. Bushaw-Newton organized several microbiology-themed stations.
Jennifer Bennett (Otterbein University)
At this year's in Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Bennett helped organize a tent titled “Grossology: The Science of Icky, Sticky, Disgusting Things.” She and her students led participants through microbiology-specific experiences using microscopes set up with demo slides of “exciting” microbes, such as Daphnia, Euglena and filamentous algae. .
Mark Chee (University of Tennessee Southern)
Dr. Chee organized a film festival on the UT Southern campus that featured microbiology and epidemiology-themed films, including "The Spanish Flu—An Invisible Enemy," "The Trouble With Chicken" and "Why We Wash Our Hands." Each film was preceded by a short presentation from scientific experts who provided context, and was succeeded by a Q&A session that encouraged active reflection by the audience.
Rania Smeltz (Virginia Tech University)
Participating in the 2022 Virgina Tech Science Festival, Dr. Smeltz and her team had several microbiology-themed activities for participating K-12 students. These activities included microscopes to allow students to visualize certain bacteria on slides, as well as petri dishes that had been swabbed by different places on the Virginia Tech campus, daily commonly used items and washed vs. unwashed hands, to demonstrate the importance of handwashing. .
