Health Disparities are a pressing issue facing many communities today, including mine. Individuals living in areas dependent on drinking water from the Cape Fear Watershed have higher rates of cancer due to contamination from PFA substances. We as the younger generation have the power to help with some of these inequities. So what can we do? VOTE
Our Future is Science is a mentorship program through the Aspen Institute Science & Society Program that covers social justice and STEM courses in the hope to create change in the future. As a mentee, I researched modules and projects dedicated to a chosen discipline and created a capstone project where I presented my findings. - https://ourfutureisscience.org/ Sources: Images: Siri - https://www.cultofmac.com/447783/toda... Google image - https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-d... Cancer screening -https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.tech... Smoothie - https://depositphotos.com/stock-photo... Articles: Racial Discrimination in Face Recognition Technology - https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/20... Self-driving cars more likely to drive into black people, study claim -https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/se... https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/22/22... https://www.technologyreview.com/2020... Movie: Coded Bias - https://www.netflix.com/title/81328723
OFIS Mentee, Prisha Bhat, and her Mentorship Team explore tree inequity from different perspectives. Based in Texas, she worked with her school’s administration, peers, and community partners to create a tree-planting program on her high school’s campus to bring awareness about the issue AND address via a community-centered approach.
OFIS Mentees Kezia and Adays conduct interviews evaluating the environmental and residential health impacts of poor housing in the South Bronx.
OFIS Mentee Trinity explores the environmental impacts of microplastics in her home state of Florida and organizes an educational park clean-up with local non-profit organizations.
OFIS Mentees Ameera, Faris, Ariyah, and Laura discuss the importance of healthcare and insurance cost transparency.
OFIS Mentee Anabella works with local youth and community organizations to educate on the positive effects of home gardens and fresh food through her Greenline project.