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Morra CN, Adkins SJ, Barnes ME, Pirlo OJ, Fleming R, Convers BJ, Glass SP, Howell ML, Raut SA. Non-STEM majors COVID-19 vaccine impressions improve, and misconceptions resolve, after podcast assignment. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOLOGY EDUCATION 2024:e0003423. [PMID: 38874323 DOI: 10.1128/jmbe.00034-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Misinformation regarding vaccine science decreased the receptiveness to COVID-19 vaccines, exacerbating the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on society. To mitigate the negative societal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, impactful and creative science communication was needed, yet little research has explored how to encourage COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and address misconceptions held by non-Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics majors (referred to as non-majors). We have previously demonstrated that including expert guest lectures in the vaccine module in the non-major introductory biology course helps combat students' vaccine hesitancy. In the present study, we further address how learning about vaccines impacts student knowledge and impressions of the COVID-19 vaccines through a podcast assignment. As a part of this assignment, non-majors created podcasts to address COVID-19 vaccine misconceptions of their choice. We coded pre and post, open-ended essay reflections (n = 40) to assess non-majors' knowledge and impressions of the COVID-19 vaccines. Non-majors' impressions of the vaccines improved following the podcast assignment with more than three times as many students reporting a positive view of the assignment than negative views. Notably, eight of the nine interviewed students still ended the course with misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccines, such as the vaccines being unnecessary or causing fertility issues. In a post semi-structured interview following this assignment, students (n = 7) discussed the impact of looking into the specific misconceptions related to COVID-19 vaccines themselves, including improved science communication skills and understanding of different perspectives. Thus, podcasts can provide opportunities for students to improve engagement in valuable societal topics like vaccine literacy in the non-majors classroom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina N Morra
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Department of Biology, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sarah J Adkins
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, Alabama, USA
| | - M Elizabeth Barnes
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA
| | - Obadiah J Pirlo
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Ryleigh Fleming
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Bianca J Convers
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Sarah P Glass
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Michael L Howell
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Samiksha A Raut
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Haverroth E, Gobble M, Bradley L, Harris-Gilliam K, Fischer A, Williams C, Long T, Sozzani R. The Black American experience: Answering the global challenge of broadening participation in STEM/agriculture. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:807-811. [PMID: 38284514 PMCID: PMC10980335 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Haverroth
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Mariah Gobble
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - LaTosha Bradley
- CALS Office of Diversity and Inclusion, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Kailyn Harris-Gilliam
- Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability Center (STEPS), North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Alicia Fischer
- Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, College of Education, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Cranos Williams
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Terri Long
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Rosangela Sozzani
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
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Wang Y, Demirer GS. Synthetic biology for plant genetic engineering and molecular farming. Trends Biotechnol 2023; 41:1182-1198. [PMID: 37012119 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Many efforts have been put into engineering plants to improve crop yields and stress tolerance and boost the bioproduction of valuable molecules. Yet, our capabilities are still limited due to the lack of well-characterized genetic building blocks and resources for precise manipulation and given the inherently challenging properties of plant tissues. Advancements in plant synthetic biology can overcome these bottlenecks and release the full potential of engineered plants. In this review, we first discuss the recently developed plant synthetic elements from single parts to advanced circuits, software, and hardware tools expediting the engineering cycle. Next, we survey the advancements in plant biotechnology enabled by these recent resources. We conclude the review with outstanding challenges and future directions of plant synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunqing Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Gozde S Demirer
- Department of Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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Inclusive collaboration across plant physiology and genomics: Now is the time! PLANT DIRECT 2023; 7:e493. [PMID: 37214275 PMCID: PMC10192722 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Within the broad field of plant sciences, what are the most pressing challenges and opportunities to advance? Answers to this question usually include food and nutritional security, climate change mitigation, adaptation of plants to changing climates, preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services, production of plant-based proteins and products, and growth of the bioeconomy. Genes and the processes their products carry out create differences in how plants grow, develop, and behave, and thus, the key solutions to these challenges lie squarely in the space where plant genomics and physiology intersect. Advancements in genomics, phenomics, and analysis tools have generated massive datasets, but these data are complex and have not always generated scientific insights at the anticipated pace. Further, new tools may need to be created or adapted, and field-relevant applications tested, to advance scientific discovery derived from such datasets. Meaningful, relevant conclusions and connections from genomics and plant physiological and biochemical data require both subject matter expertise and the collaborative skills needed to work together outside of specific disciplines. Bringing the best expertise to bear on complex problems in plant sciences requires enhanced, inclusive, and sustained collaboration across disciplines. However, despite significant efforts to enable and sustain collaborative research, a variety of challenges persist. Here, we present the outcomes and conclusions of two workshops convened to address the need for collaboration between scientists engaged in plant physiology, genetics, and genomics and to discuss the approaches that will create the necessary environments to support successful collaboration. We conclude with approaches to share and reward collaboration and the need to train inclusive scientists that will have the skills to thrive in interdisciplinary contexts.
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Haq SM, Yaqoob U, Majeed M, Amjad MS, Hassan M, Ahmad R, Waheed M, Bussmann RW, Calixto ES, Proćków J, de la Lastra JMP, Morales-de la Nuez A. Quantitative ethnoveterinary study on plant resource utilization by indigenous communities in high-altitude regions. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:944046. [PMID: 36277063 PMCID: PMC9583879 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.944046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
For millennia, ethnic knowledge has been intricately tied to local biodiversity and woven into the fabric of rural communities. Growing scientific evidence suggests that merging ethnic knowledge with new scientific findings can lead to socially acceptable and environmentally friendly approaches essential for the long-term prosperity of local communities. In the high-altitude region, where livestock raising is a key income source, and plant-based utilization for ethno-veterinary practices is widely practiced. In this context, this study was conducted with the aim of documenting the ethno-veterinary use of plant resources in different bio-geographical regions of Jammu and Kashmir's Himalayas (J & KH). Semi-structured interviews and group discussions were used to collect information. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson correlation were conducted to analyze the data. We documented 148 species from 53 families that locals used for various purposes: medicine, fodder, tonic, antidote, magic, and also used to protect themselves from ectoparasite such as Pediculus humanus capitis by the local inhabitants. There were significant differences in the relative usage of plant resources across the three biogeographic regions. Comparatively, the highest number (41%) of plant species were used for ethnoveterinary in the Jammu region, while the lowest number (28%) of species were used in Kashmir. Across the regions, Kashmir and Jammu had the highest level of species similarity (17%), while Jammu and Ladakh had the lowest (1%). A cross-regional assessment of plant resources revealed that 18% of plants were shared among the regions. The reported use of Amaranthus blitum, Morus alba, Ficus palmata, Vitex negundo, Juniperus semiglobosa, Ulmus wallichiana, and Rumex nepalensis are novel for the ethno-veterinary uses of this part of the Himalayan region. The various dry unique traditional fodder preparations (gaaslov, gass khor, pan baath, kaandbaath, Lovgooad, Karb, and Phungma) from plant resources are reported for the first time from the Himalayan region and can be ascribed to the novelty of this study. Plant resources were not only a source of fodder and medicine but also presented themselves as an opportunity for livelihood generation. Therefore, our findings bridge the knowledge gap by documenting key ethnoveterinary applications of native plant species from the study region that are used to cure livestock diseases and disorders by the mountain inhabitants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiekh Marifatul Haq
- Clybay Research Private Limited, Bangalore, India,Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | | | - Muhammad Majeed
- Department of Botany, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Shoaib Amjad
- Department of Botany, Women University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bagh, Pakistan,School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Muhammad Shoaib Amjad
| | | | - Riyaz Ahmad
- National Center for Wildlife, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Rainer Willi Bussmann
- Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Eduardo Soares Calixto
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jarosław Proćków
- Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - José M. Pérez de la Lastra
- Biotechnology of Macromolecules, Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology, CSIC-Spanish Research Council, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Morales-de la Nuez
- Biotechnology of Macromolecules, Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology, CSIC-Spanish Research Council, Madrid, Spain,Antonio Morales-de la Nuez
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Henkhaus NA, Busch W, Chen A, Colón‐Carmona A, Cothran M, Diaz N, Dundore‐Arias JP, Gonzales M, Hadziabdic D, Hayes RA, MacIntosh GC, Na A, Nyamasoka‐Magonziwa B, Pater D, Peritore‐Galve FC, Phelps‐Durr T, Rouhier K, Sickler DB, Starnes JH, Tyler QR, Valdez‐Ward E, Vega‐Sánchez ME, Walcott RR, Ward JK, Wyatt SE, Zapata F, Zemenick AT, Stern DB. Removing systemic barriers to equity, diversity, and inclusion: Report of the 2019 Plant Science Research Network workshop "Inclusivity in the Plant Sciences". PLANT DIRECT 2022; 6:e432. [PMID: 36035898 PMCID: PMC9399870 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A future in which scientific discoveries are valued and trusted by the general public cannot be achieved without greater inclusion and participation of diverse communities. To envision a path towards this future, in January 2019 a diverse group of researchers, educators, students, and administrators gathered to hear and share personal perspectives on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the plant sciences. From these broad perspectives, the group developed strategies and identified tactics to facilitate and support EDI within and beyond the plant science community. The workshop leveraged scenario planning and the richness of its participants to develop recommendations aimed at promoting systemic change at the institutional level through the actions of scientific societies, universities, and individuals and through new funding models to support research and training. While these initiatives were formulated specifically for the plant science community, they can also serve as a model to advance EDI in other disciplines. The proposed actions are thematically broad, integrating into discovery, applied and translational science, requiring and embracing multidisciplinarity, and giving voice to previously unheard perspectives. We offer a vision of barrier-free access to participation in science, and a plant science community that reflects the diversity of our rapidly changing nation, and supports and invests in the training and well-being of all its members. The relevance and robustness of our recommendations has been tested by dramatic and global events since the workshop. The time to act upon them is now.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wolfgang Busch
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology LaboratorySalk Institute for Biological StudiesLa JollaCAUSA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Gustavo C. MacIntosh
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyIowa State UniversityAmesIAUSA
| | - Ali Na
- Film and MediaQueen's UniversityKingstonONCanada
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - John H. Starnes
- Mathematics and SciencesSouthcentral Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeBowling GreenKYUSA
| | - Quentin R. Tyler
- College of Agriculture and Natural ResourcesMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
| | | | | | - Ron R. Walcott
- College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences/Plant PathologyUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGAUSA
| | - Joy K. Ward
- Dean of Arts and SciencesCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandOHUSA
| | | | - Felipe Zapata
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Ash T. Zemenick
- Sagehen Creek Field StationUniversity of California, BerkeleyTruckeeCAUSA
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Madzima TF, MacIntosh GC. Equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts in professional societies: intention versus reaction. THE PLANT CELL 2021; 33:3189-3193. [PMID: 34264320 PMCID: PMC8505871 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koab186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Thelma F Madzima
- Division of Biological Sciences, School of STEM, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell, Washington, 98011
| | - Gustavo C MacIntosh
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011
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Search strategies. NATURE PLANTS 2021; 7:541. [PMID: 34007037 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-021-00937-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
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