The Lower Brule Research Lab is receiving a $5,000 grant from the Society for Science and the Public. Lower Brule Research is dedicated to providing indigenous students with engaging science and technology education.
In the time of a global pandemic, STEM education is more important than ever to providing information, research, and ultimately a vaccine to help stop the coronavirus. Lower Brule Research is one of eighteen organizations providing STEM education, that is receiving part of a $75,000 grant from the Society for Science & the Public.
Maya Ajmera is the President and CEO of the society. She says Diversity in the STEM field brings out the best and most innovative ideas.
“When you look at individuals within communities, the problems within one community may be different in another community," Ajmera says. "and if we can’t support and back these students, who are future scientists and engineers, they’re looking at their problems differently than someone else from another community, because their problems are different.”
Ajmera says these diverse ideas help advance science as time goes on, and also helps these students apply this problem solving to their own life.
Billy Joe Sazue is a Community Educator for Lower Brule Research. He says learning about science and technology can help with life lessons, especially in difficult times.
You’ve got to be able to work around obstacles," Sazue says. "You’ve got to be able to think through some of the struggles, and you have to have patience, fortitude through everything we’ve had to endure, especially working remotely. It’s been challenging.”
Sazue says students at Lower Brule are currently working on technology to tackle the issue of murdered and missing indigenous women.