Lauren Odom
Youth Services Librarian
Hello, my name is Lauren Odom and I am currently a Youth Services Librarian. I graduated from NSU in 2015 with a Bachelor of Applied Professional Studies in Biology and Psychology and minor in Spanish. I went on to earn my Master of Library Science degree from North Carolina Central University in 2018. Participating in Science Alive gave me the opportunity to explore working with children in a fun way that also challenged my own understanding of science. As a biology student, my classmates and I came up with some of the science experiments that we would go on to share at the Science Alive events. I had fun working with the youth and that has carried over into my work as librarian. I coordinate programs that engage and educate youth to get their minds thinking about what subjects they may be interested in exploring, especially science. One of my summer programs was much like a small-scale version of Science Alive in which each week I’d introduce a science concept and have the children do hands on experiments. I appreciate the experience and the way that it has helped me help others in my career.
Ajay Bhatia
Medical Student, MS III
Being a coordinator of Science Alive in 2017/2018 was a truly rewarding experience. I felt as though I was making real impact on the children, as there was genuine excitement as we walked into the classrooms on Fridays. The program tested me on concepts I previously thought I knew well (as I had to understand the topics well enough to teach the children), and introduced me to new science topics that I otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn.
Medical Student, MS III
Being a coordinator of Science Alive in 2017/2018 was a truly rewarding experience. I felt as though I was making real impact on the children, as there was genuine excitement as we walked into the classrooms on Fridays. The program tested me on concepts I previously thought I knew well (as I had to understand the topics well enough to teach the children), and introduced me to new science topics that I otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn.
Alexander Martinek
Morehouse School of Medicine, Class of 2024
Science Alive gave me the opportunity to learn how to teach topics I had studied on a daily basis at an elementary level. I love the idea of exposing STEM topics to elementary school students because I never received such exposure at a young age. I believe it motivates and inspires the children to learn more about the topics they have participated in. Teaching chemistry to elementary school students through Science Alive has been one of my more impactful service experiences. It is always extremely rewarding to attend Science Alive events whether it is at a local elementary school, library, or another site. My time with Science Alive has taught me life-long lessons that I feel will help me as a future physician as well. I am looking forward to seeing the program continue to grow and positively impact the community.
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Valentina Ramirez
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Maily Rodríguez
Biology Teacher
I had the most wonderful experience volunteering for science alive. It made me appreciate and enjoy teaching students the wonders of science and how beautiful it is. I will forever cherish those moments and how amazing it was to see the faces of children mesmerized by seeing all the cool experiments Dr. Schmitt prepared. Science Alive was one of the best and coolest experiences I had during my four years at NOVA.
Whitney Van Arsdale MPH, CPH
Epidemiologist/Biostatistician
Volunteering with Science Alive allowed me the opportunity to give back in a way that is unique from other volunteer opportunities. It allows me to not only inspire future science nerds like me, but it also helped me to get more comfortable speaking to an audience and really honing the skills necessary for disseminating scientific information in a fun and engaging way. I always remember that quote from Albert Einstein: "If you can't explain it to a six-year old, you don't understand it yourself."
Cory Hoffman
Biology Teacher and Strength & Conditioning Coach
Hello, my name is Cory Hoffman and I am an alumni from the class of 2015. I graduated from NSU with a major in Biology and minor in Exercise Science. I also received my Master's Degree in Exercise Science from Montclair State University. Currently, I am a High School Teacher and Strength & Conditioning Coach where I teach Biology and our school's Exercise Science Pathway. Looking back, Science Alive earns full credit for exposing my passion for education. I initially volunteered because I wanted to become a pediatrician, and always had a blast working with children. What I did not expect was the impact that those two years of Science Alive would have on my mindset. Within the classroom, I saw how transformative a simple lab activity could be to a child's curiosity and passion. It made me think about how I could improve each week to make each child feel the same excitement I had towards the STEM field. Ultimately, this drive for inclusion and curiosity became my rationale to step away from pursuing my medical degree and become a teacher. It really is because of Science Alive that I recognized my passion for inspiring and preparing our next generations to make an impact.
Samantha Burgess
Marine Biologist
Hi, my name is Samantha! I am currently working as a Fisheries Biologist in the Bering Sea. I love Science Alive because I love teaching kids, it gives me hope that if a child can understand why the Ocean and environmental science is so important maybe the rest of the world can too. I believe that kids are the future and I want to help them find science interesting and fun.
Marine Biologist
Hi, my name is Samantha! I am currently working as a Fisheries Biologist in the Bering Sea. I love Science Alive because I love teaching kids, it gives me hope that if a child can understand why the Ocean and environmental science is so important maybe the rest of the world can too. I believe that kids are the future and I want to help them find science interesting and fun.
Morgan Will
Marine Biologist
Hello, my name is Morgan and I am a Senior at NSU, pursuing a double major in Marine Biology and Environmental Science. Science Alive is an amazing program, giving me the opportunity to reach out and engage the community in science. I first became interested in marine science through the Mentoring Young Scientists Program, hosted at the Virginia Aquarium. As I have continued to pursue my passion for marine sciences, it has been my pleasure to reach out to young students through the Science Alive program, offering more students a similar opportunity to the one I was lucky enough to experience. I look forward to continue working with the Science Alive program, sharing what I have learned so far and inspiring passion in the next group of students.
Svilen Guenov
Biology Major
Hi, my name is Svilen. My vision is to help people become the healthiest and happiest version of themselves. Currently, I’m working on my Bachelor Degree of Biological Sciences at Nova Southeastern University and I plan on entering a healthcare profession. I started volunteering at Science Alive during my Sophomore year and what I’ve been able to take in from the organization is insurmountable. My Experience with Science Alive has taught me the importance of guiding children and bringing novelty into their education. I have an intent on helping them expand their creativity and creating experiences what will last with them forever. Science Alive has also changed my perspective as a student because when you teach something, you get to learn it twice; it’s truly amazing. I look forward to working with the team members and sharing our knowledge for years to come.
Hanna Stewart
Medical Student
Hi, my name is Hanna! I’m currently working on a dual Bachelor Degree of Biological Sciences and Behavioral Neuroscience at Nova Southeastern University, and I plan on entering medical school in the fall of 2020. Until my freshman year of high school, I had absolutely no interest in science. However, I was blessed with an incredible biology teacher and she completely changed my career path. Since then, I have been a huge advocate for science education, and have spent years tutoring high school and college aged students. I started volunteering with Science Alive during my sophomore year of college, it has been a blast ever since. I created the neuroscience subsection of the Science Alive program, and it is a great way to expose children to a unique niche of biology, and helps them learn the many ways that their brains communicate with their body. While some days it may be challenging, it is such a rewarding experience when you see the light bulbs go off while they are having fun. My favorite part about Science Alive is getting to act as a mentor for children who grew up like me, with a negative view of science, and showing them in a relaxed environment just how fun it can be.
