Abstract
"Roots of Renewal" is a five-week Biodesign internship program created to address the need for interdisciplinary education for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. By taking on an equity lens, the project challenges traditional educational pathways available to AAPI youth and encourages greater participation of communities of color and underrepresented youth in science, art, and biodesign.
The internship program employs a community-driven education model that cultivates ongoing curiosity by providing out-of-school workshops in various spaces within the local vicinity of students, expanding their knowledge and appreciation of their local community. The concept of community is further solidified through collaborations with organizations such as the Asian American Arts Alliance, Chinese-American Planning Council, Genspace, ArtBuilt, and New York Mycological Society.
Foundational knowledge of biodesign is introduced to the students through an integrative, collaborative, and reflective teaching pedagogy that prioritizes hands-on experiences over didactic courses. The program includes a workshop on sterile lab techniques, mushroom cloning, and sculpting with mycelium. Additionally, students participate in an educational walk where they identify mushrooms and collect samples for a DNA barcoding experiment.
Each session is accompanied by written reflections prompting students to explore their AAPI identity, connections to their community, observations of the scientific and natural world, and art. Students will collaborate on an art piece by growing and assembling mycelium sculptures and creating a zine. The internship culminates in an art showcase which provides students the space to engage their peers and guests and share insights from the program.
