Exploring the Bioverse
c/o Ellie Kim
c/o Ellie Kim
Last month, Service Learning Fellow Ellie Kim led a 6-week class about biology for a group of middle school girls. “Exploring the Bioverse” was made possible by generous grant support from the Karma for Cara Foundation.
Ellie began by recruiting a team of instructors: Kenzi Bialy, Megan Collins, Diya Damwani, and Faith Lee. Together, they designed a series of lessons about natural selection, genetics, and heredity. Because the program was held virtually, Ellie worked to ensure her curriculum was both intellectually stimulating and engaging. She integrated hands-on activities like coloring, punnet square puzzles, a “murder mystery” genetics project, and virtual escape rooms. Ellie even invited various guest speakers from local nature reserves and conservation centers—a true testament to her creativity!
Ellie prioritized middle school girls in hopes of fighting the prevalent stereotypes, like “boys are better at math,” that often influence how female students view their own abilities. Thanks to her adaptive approach, students were laughing, learning, and asking questions throughout each lesson. By the end of the program, students had developed a foundational understanding of how biological systems function and how scientists investigate natural phenomena. They received early exposure to scientific thinking, hands-on exploration, and peer-to-peer mentorship.
The project was run under the auspices of the Eloquence Charitable Fund, a philanthropic initiative connecting academic debate to community service. During her time competing in debate and volunteering at Eloquence Academy, Ellie became increasingly passionate about educational equity. In research, she read a recent study by the Walton Family Foundation, which found that a mere 16% of high school seniors graduate ready to pursue college-level coursework in science. Therefore, while 75% of youth express interest in science, only 29% want to pursue a career in the discipline. Ellie’s project was both inspired by and a response to these statistics.
We are excited to continue supporting our Service Learning Fellows’ projects.
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Eloquence Academy, Inc. is the world’s largest youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and Title 1 students. The Academy has offered live debate programs for 3,600 students, partnerships with 122 schools and nonprofit organizations, and online resources for 20,000 learners. Bolstered by 225 volunteers, it has prepared students across all 50 states and 102 countries for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact. Follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
