Shaping Scientific Access and Equality

October 2024 brought New England Biolabs’ fourth Passion in Science Awards^®, recognizing those who stand out within the scientific community across four categories: Scientific Mentorship and Advocacy, Humanitarian Duty, Environmental Stewardship, and Arts and Creativity.

Twelve individuals received awards in 2024 and were celebrated on Oct. 9 and 10 at our headquarters in Ipswich, MA, USA, and additionally received a $1,000 donation to the charity of their choice. In this blog, we highlight the work from the five recipients of the Scientific Mentorship and Advocacy Award™.

 

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Rogelio Hernández Lopéz, Ph.D.

The Clubes de Ciencia Program

Rogelio Hernández Lopéz co-founded the non-profit Clubes de Ciencia in 2014 to increase educational opportunities across Latin America. Clubes de Ciencia began with hands-on science workshops for high school and college students in Mexico and has since expanded to other Latin American countries.

 

Rogelio Hernández Lopéz (left) with Paula Magnelli (right) at his poster for the Passion in Science Awards poster session. Photo courtesy of Mileidy Rodriguez.

 

With a range of subjects taught by local and international instructors, Clubes de Ciencia has a broad reach and helps students develop a scientific mindset. To date, this organization has provided free courses to over 20 thousand students. Utilizing a decentralized structure with a core of coordinators and a network of volunteers, Hernández Lopéz has created a community-first organization that can continue to expand.

 

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Anne Madden, Ph.D.

The Microbe Institute

Anne Madden’s desire to reveal the full potential of microbes led to the founding of The Microbe Institute, a nonprofit aiming to foster discovery. Interdisciplinary collaboration between scientists, artists and educators allows the Institute to spotlight both the beauty and practicality of microbes.

 

Anne Madden at the Interconnected Yellowstone field trip. Photo courtesy of Megan Kelly.

 

Madden’s nonprofit engages participants through a range of projects, such as the Purple Microbe Project, which grew from an effort to map the locations of purple-pigmented microbes to include bioeconomy education and an art project. The range of resources offered has led to The Microbe Institute being integrated into university programs and receiving international attention.

 

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Samuel Ogunsola, M.S.

Shaping African Women in STEM (SWISAfrica)

Ph.D. candidate Samuel Ogunsola co-founded Shaping Women in STEM (SWIS) to address the inequity women face when pursuing STEM-related education and careers, especially in Africa. SWIS has five core values — consistency, creativity, clarity, collaboration, and commitment — which inform the use of storytelling, programming and partnerships to support women who want to pursue careers in STEM.

 

Photo courtesy of Samuel Ogunsola.

 

So far, SWIS has served over 1,000 women, and Ogunsola has plans for expansion. This includes developing a virtual mentorship system and launching a scholarship program. The recent registration of SWIS as a non-profit in Nigeria will also aid these efforts. Partnering with corporations and academic institutions will further these goals and help create a lasting legacy.

 

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Alyssa Paparella

DisabledInSTEM Mentorship Program

Alyssa Paparella, currently in the fifth year of her Ph.D., launched Disabled in STEM in 2020 to connect the disabled community in STEM, a community she struggled to find. Disabled in STEM offers a mentorship program for individuals with disabilities in STEM across all career stages.

 

Alyssa Paparella presenting the Disabled in STEM program at the Passion in Science Awards poster session. Photo courtesy of Mileidy Rodriguez.

 

Currently, the program operates as mentoring pods consisting of at least two mentors and multiple mentees who meet monthly throughout the year-long mentorship. So far, 380 people have participated in Disabled in STEM internationally. Participants have left their mentorships better equipped to advocate for accessibility and feeling more empowered to continue paths in STEM.

 

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Don Spratt, Ph.D.

ClarkU STEM Outreach Program

Associate Professor Don Spratt’s offer to host a high school student for a short time in his Clark University lab grew into an entire program, initiated in 2019. Helping to provide students in AP Biology and AP Chemistry around Worcester, Massachusetts, USA with hands-on lab experience, Spratt has hosted around 500 students.

 

 

Don Spratt (left) presenting his work during the Passion in Science Awards poster session. Photo courtesy of Mileidy Rodriguez.

 

Spratt's efforts focus on the importance of skills such as teamwork and communication in addition to technical science skills, aiming to give students the best chances for success. While Spratt is just one person, his significant contributions are influencing Clark University’s plan to create a lasting program for future students.

These recipients highlight some of the crucial work being done to advance science and science education, showcasing their devotion to making a difference in their fields and communities. For a full list of Passion in Science Award recipients, refer to our Passion in Science Awards page.