Rethinking Traditional Scientific Pedagogy and Retention of Underrepresented Populations in Post-Secondary Education

Author: Ashley Donegan
Mentor: Ali Syed
Institution: BMCC
Abstract: To improve the retention of students in the sciences, I am exploring the development of a program intended to address the issues of housing and food insecurity, as well as low representation of underrepresented students in the sciences. Undergraduate-level scientific pedagogy focuses on content memorization in a lecture format; I would expand upon this with two main features to propose a model that would be rid of “weed-out” classes, and fully integrate students in scientific study while providing housing and food stability through a live/work urban farming collective. Students in the program would be given free or subsidized food and housing in exchange for their work on the rooftop farm.