All About Spartans for Science Policy
Spartans for Science and Policy (SSP) is a science policy group at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro,
focused on empowering students to advocate for science policy topics in our community.
Officers
Megan Damico
Southern Hub Chair for National Science Policy NetworkÂ
& Vice President
4th year PhD Candidate - Environmental Health Sciences
I study how different environmental, microbial, and genetic factors can influence the community level composition of the honey bee gut microbiome.
I am excited that there are folks who are interested in getting the community engaged in science and technology in the Triad!
Josh Frost
President
2nd Year PhD - Organic Synthesis
I work on new ways to make molecules that are chiral, or that vary only in the way they are oriented in space.
My favorite part of SSP is getting to reach out and share science with everyone and think about how science effects every aspect of our lives.
Hillary Dimig
Treasurer
1st year PhD - Nanoscience
My research involves using a high-throughput method to screen CRISPR guide RNA hairpin secondary structures for increased specificity towards well-characterized therapeutic targets, so that later machine learning can be used to identify possible hairpin guide-RNAs for a larger range of targets.
I hope Spartans for Science Policy will be seen as an open club where anyone with an interest in science communication, outreach, legislative action, professional development in science policy or any other aspect of science policy is welcome to contribute.
Morgan Frost
Outreach Coordinator
4th year, PhD - Environmental Health Science
My research focuses on understanding the consequences of invasive grass species for our rangeland communities. I want to know how global change, including species invasion, impacts our long-term rangeland sustainability.
My favorite part about SSP is getting to meet and talk with people in our Greensboro and broader NC community about science. My goal in SSP is to help bridge the gap between scientists and the public, as well as to expose students to broader options of careers in STEM.
Kala Youngblood
Secretary
Senior Undergraduate - Chemistry
My research involves developing new organic synthesis methods for asymmetric molecules. I hope to develop more efficient routes to these molecules.
I am excited about community outreach in Greensboro. Communication between scientists, the government and the general public is so vital.
Mission Statement
As a group, we hope to help students become more well-rounded and better advocates for science in our community. Our group welcomes all students from STEM fields, social sciences, and other majors interested in advocating for community engagement in science. A student in this group will understand their impact on local, state, and federal governments through the use of science policy and advocacy. Spartans for Science and Policy offers students the unique opportunity to learn how to do science outreach activities with young students in elementary, middle, and high school in the greater Triad area and provides support for future leaders interested in pursuing their college degrees STEM and social sciences. Students will have the opportunity to exercise their science communication skills through outreach activities with local schools and North Carolina universities. We hope that by instilling these skills and ideas in students at UNCG and local schools, we can empower them to positively change their communities.