Introducing our Campus Coordinators!
Welcome our Campus Coordinators: Ana Carneiro and Tanner Frank
UC Berkeley students are back on campus this August, and CRS' Campus Coordinators will be working to introduce students to our different outreach programs, helping them share their research, interests, and passion for science with local East Bay students. Hear from our new Campus Coordinators, Ana Carneiro and Tyler Frank, and what they're looking forward to most this year.
I absolutely love talking about the types of research going on in the world of science, especially to younger students. They’re intrigued to hear about how science is used and always have inquisitive and interesting questions to ask about it. Often, students will ask questions I’ve never considered!
What do you think is most important for incoming volunteers to know?
Ana: Effective science communication and education takes practice! Working with students in classrooms is super fun, but being able to communicate science topics and research projects to young students is a challenge – how can we avoid jargon and uncommonly-used words? Why are these research projects important? How can we relate it to things that students already know about?
Tanner: Don’t be afraid to have fun in sharing your group’s lesson with students–it’s ok if you don’t know the answer to everything. Ultimately, if you are enjoying yourself and project enthusiasm for the science, students will be more receptive and get that much more out of the lesson!
Where's your favorite hangout spot on campus?
Ana: Any boba place! Feng Cha and Happy Lemon are my favorite boba places.
Tanner: I love the Botanical Gardens. A closer favorite is the redwood-lined segment of Strawberry Creek’s south fork, just south of VLSB. It’s a great place to experience some quiet while still surrounded by the buzz of campus life.
What are you looking forward to most in your position/this school year?
Ana: Learning about other teams’ BASIS lessons, helping teams readjust to in-person lessons, and building stronger connections between departmental teams!
Tanner: I brought back a bunch of fossil-containing rocks from my fieldwork this summer, and am excited to process them in the acid lab and see what 385-million year old fossils I will find! And of course, I’m very excited to return to in-person BASIS lessons!
What connections are you looking forward to making/strengthening in science education this year?
Ana: In addition to strengthening connections between BASIS teams, I’d love to build connections with teachers, understand their science curriculum, and learn what types of resources are most helpful and needed.
Tanner: I’m looking forward to working on the aforementioned fossils with my undergraduate student partners. Also, as in-person activities (hopefully are able to) continue, I’m looking forward to building stronger bonds with my cohort and the paleo museum community.
As a campus coordinator for BASIS, I’m also looking forward to getting familiar with the broader organization outside my team, and working to encourage more BASIS groups in my department (Integrative Biology).
