14 Tying it all together: Final words

To help fill the gap between the PEER’s community and STEM interest, which contributes to a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive scientific community. My proposed pedagogy (a fancy way of saying teaching style) incorporates hip-hop and sneaker culture, as central themes, to teach chemistry. Again this material exposes students to General, Polymer, and Materials Chemistry and its application in the footwear industry.

These activities are important because underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized communities do not have exposure to specialized sciences. Aka, this work allows for younger students to be exposed to some graduate-level sciences in a digestible and engaging way.

My passions and past experiences motivated me to want to make a change in the science-teaching curriculum, and through this project, I can contribute to making that change. I want to inspire others through my work to find and develop creative ways to incorporate parts of their culture, interests, and passions into their respective fields. Interdisciplinary work is gaining popularity and should be a focal point for teaching STEAM subjects. I intend to encourage other current and future creative scientists to incorporate multiple disciplines into their research.