While the group expands and explores the frontier of materials design and advanced characterization for environmentally-friendly electrochemical technologies, we also strive to give back by mentoring, educating, and inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals.
In addition to our research goals, the Li Group is committed to galvanizing future scientists, engineers, and technologists to meet the challenges of the 21st century. According to the National Science Foundation research on engagement, and as most students students spend time outside the classroom, we feel that informal science learning is a vital aspect of our overall mission [1]. We especially hope to support individuals from underrepresented minorities and disadvantaged backgrounds, who are likely to find science challenging and disengaging in the conventional school format [2]. It is our hope that students, from the K-12 level to the undergrad level, 1) become motivated to learn how the natural and physical world work and 2) develop an identity as someone who understands, uses, and contributes to science. For those interested in supporting the Li Group's efforts with outreach and/or learning more about our initiatives, feel free to reach out to us!
[1] T. Roberts, C. Jackson, M. J. Mohr-Schroeder, S. B. Bush, C. Maiorca, M. Cavalcanti, D. C. Schroeder, A. Delaney, L. Putnam, C. Cremeans, Students’ perceptions of STEM learning after participating in a summer informal learning experience. Int. J. STEM Educ. 5, 1–14 (2018).
[2] P.-Y. Lin, C. D. Schunn, The dimensions and impact of informal science learning experiences on middle schoolers’ attitudes and abilities in science. Int. J. Sci. Educ. 38, 2551–2572 (2016).
Run by our undergraduate and graduate students, our group's YouTube channel demystifies academic careers and the Li Group's cutting-edge research. YouTube is a great informal supplement to learning and has been underutilized in the academic community to increase access to broader audiences from varying scientific backgrounds. Videos soon to come include, but are not limited to how-to tutorials, paper talks, and discussions on science. Feel free to check us out, smash that like button and subscribe to Li Group @ UCLA here!
Members of the Li Group are active volunteers in the California Nanosystems Institute Nanoscience Outreach Program at UCLA, where faculty and students develop and facilitate workshops to train teachers on developing educational modules related to nanoscience to K-12 students.
The Li Group is also partnering with student groups, such as the UCLA American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) chapter, to collaborate on outreach modules that will be used to disseminate science to the K - 12 community. Recently, Li Group undergraduates have been working with UCLA AIChE's Remote Reach program and have begun to develop material for teaching electrochemistry to high school students.
To learn more about the CNSI Nanoscience Outreach program and AIChE at UCLA Remote Reach, check them out here and here.
4/25: Xintong mentors 3 high school students from San Bernardino County for competition in an international science fair.
11/3/24: Yuzhang and Katelyn join Exploring Your Universe Educational Event and give one of the 16 featured science talks!
4/28/24: Julie and Richik's Chem-E Car team wins third at the AIChE Western Regional Conference competition in Berkeley! Good luck at nationals!
4/6/24: Xintong and Bonnie serve as volunteer instructors for K-12 teachers in Fast Batteries Workshop hosted by UCLA CNSI.
3/8/24: Xintong is invited to be on a panel for the department open house.
2/2/24: Xintong and Bonnie are invited to give talks about our battery research to a girl scout troop hosted by AIChE at UCLA!
11/5/23: Xintong and Bonnie join Exploring Your Universe Educational Event at UCLA to share science with all ages (K-12+) and backgrounds.
9/19/23: Xintong and Bonnie serve as volunteers for Graduate Student Orientation to welcome new graduate and professional students to campus!
5/27/22: Yuzhang serves as the Nanovation mentor for the Valencia High School team, who took home first place in the Nanovation competition!
5/3/22: Yuzhang gives guest lecture on battery technologies during Elizabeth's and Brandan's CH ENGR 88S seminar on energy.
4/28/22: Katelyn and Richik present their awesome coffeemaker designs at the ChIP Showcase. Way to go!
4/23/22: Braden's Chem-E Car team wins the AIChE Western Regional Conference competition! Yuzhang also served as a judge.
Xintong and Randy (most left) in the Inspire Program: Scientists of Tomorrow
Yuzhang and Katelyn in EYU presentation
Recently, Li Group partnered with Exploring Your Universe (EYU), an annual free science fair at UCLA designed to give K-12 science learning experiences to the community. Yuzhang and undergraduate Katelyn gave one of the 16 featured science talks, "Chilling with batteries: how freezing-cold microscopes unlock the hidden secrets of future batteries," demonstrating principles of electrochemistry and cryo-TEM through demos with lemon batteries and liquid nitrogen.
Xintong and Bonnie in Fast Batteries Workshop hosted by UCLA CNSI
Xintong and Bonnie with the girl scout troop
Xintong and Bonnie in Exploring Your Universe Educational Event
