Alyssa Agarwal
Sparking Interest in Science
through Art
Alyssa found that students lose interest in science early on due to lack of engagement in the classroom. To address this issue, she wrote The Art and Science of Influenza––a book that uses art to educate students about infection, immunity, and vaccines. Working with artists, scientists, and Coronado Middle School faculty, Alyssa created a lasting curriculum that is now used by multiple educators to engage students in science from an artistic perspective.
Alyssa discovered that a student’s imagination is their greatest learning tool and plans to continue integrating her passion for art and science. Additionally, through this experience leading a diverse team of artists, educators, and scientists, her most valuable lesson was the importance of communication and the persistence necessary to reach a common goal.
Thank you to my mentors Mr. Ramirez and Tiffany Chatham Smith, my troop leaders Aileen Teague and Shirley Demer, Coronado Middle School faculty, and my many other collaborators. I would also like to thank my family and friends, I could not have done this without you! A special heartfelt thanks goes to my scientific mentor, the late Dr. Wendy Havran, who sparked my vision for this project and inspired me to teach the next generation of budding scientists.