The mission of the STEM Community Alliance Program is to foster interest in science among Youth-In-Custody through engagement with scientists, artists, and educators. In addition to interest in science, we aim to help students self-identify as science capable learners and encourage them to contribute to science, nature protection, and the STEM workforce. By forging connections between Youth-In-Custody, scientists, educators, and artists, we hope to expand the scope of these contributions by highlighting the role that art and the humanities can play in protecting nature, providing science information to the public, and inspiring others to act.
Our Mission
Meet Our Team
Full time Staff
Dr. Nalini Nadkarni is a Biology Professor at the University of Utah. She explores life in the forest canopies of Costa Rica, and studies the effects of deforestation and climate change on forests. She has published over 150 scientific articles and three scholarly books. Dr. Nadkarni’s work goes far beyond science, as she invites different ways of knowing to inspire stewardship of the natural world. She is a passionate communicator, bringing science and conservation to faith-based groups, urban youth, modern dancers, rap singers, the fashion world, and incarcerated adults and youth. Dr. Nadkarni is a TED speaker, a National Geographic Society Explorer, and has a “Tree Top Barbie” created by the Mattel Corporation. Her work is supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society. Her awards include a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Washington State Department of Corrections Education Award, the Archie Carr Medal for Conservation, and the William Julius Wilson Award for Achievement in Social Justice.
Dr. Nalini Nadkarni
Program Director
Laura earned her M.S in the Environmental Humanities from the University of Utah. As a master’s student, Laura focused on reformation of youth environmental education, aiming to make it more inclusive to underserved populations as well as to those who don’t typically think of themselves as interested in or capable of participating in science through the inclusion of place-based interdisciplinary content. Laura currently works as the Program Manager for Initiative to Bring Science Programs to the Incarcerated (INSPIRE) and STEM Community Alliance Program (STEMCAP) for Youth-in-Care. These two programs bring local scientists to adult and juvenile incarcerated populations, respectively, to provide informal science education. Laura was drawn to these programs by their effort to engage underserved populations while expanding participants’ perception of science through interdisciplinary work and in-person contact with local scientists.
Laura George
Program Manager
Meg earned her BS in Anthropology from the University of Utah. She is a Program Coordinator for INSPIRE and STEMAP. She works with both programs to help provide public engagement of science training to scientists, and coordinate workshops at youth and adult corrections facilities. Meg joined the Nadkarni Lab after working in the non-profit field in Salt Lake as a community engagement coordinator.
Megan Young
Program Coordinator
Amanda received her BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Ohio University. She joined the Nadkarni lab after gaining experience as a researcher in the Psychology department at the University of Utah. She currently works as the Program Coordinator for the STEM Community Alliance Program (STEMCAP) connecting scientists, artists, media specialists, and community organizations with Youth In Custody facilities. She is most passionate about helping underserved populations to increase their access to nature and STEM education, along with conducting research to continue to validate the efficacy of these practices.
Amanda Carriero
Program Coordinator
Past Employees
Natalie Toth, Program Manager
Matt Whitaker, Co-Program Manager
Celeste Henrickson, Co-Project Coordinator
Allison Anholt, Program Manager
Skye Willard, Program Coordinator
Jack Hendershot, Student Intern
Cynthia Cheketts, Student Intern
Kelsey Barnick, Student Intern
Sarah Welker, Student Intern
Ananya Roy, Student Intern
Yuqi Chen, Student Intern
Allison Jacobsen, Student Intern
Kiana Luu, Student Intern
Emily Johnston, Student Intern
Linda Zhao, Student Intern
Monica Andersen, Student Intern
Our Partners
Our Sponsors
