Combining Research and Outreach
Despite its inherent nature in our lives, many students are not exposed to the field of biomechanics or its underlying principles until collegiate studies, if at all. This is truly a missed opportunity for many students, especially since biomechanics is so broadly relatable through topics such as injury risk and sport performance. In addition to our lab’s ongoing research, we are also driven to broaden biomechanics exposure, introduce students to a new field of study, and encourage student confidence to pursue STEM fields that they may be interested in. Research and outreach are traditionally performed separately, but conducting research in conjunction with outreach events can create rich and mutually beneficial opportunities. Our lab aims to create such opportunities for research exposure, experiential learning, and demystification of STEM studies for pre-collegiate students, addressing pipeline barriers limiting STEM diversity. We look forward to partnering with existing outreach platforms such as National Biomechanics Day as well as establishing new relationships with local programs and schools to invite students to be active participants in our research and the field of biomechanics, both as participant and investigator.
