Impact
What Students Are Saying
What Faculty Are Saying
“We shared, exchanged resources, and hyped each other’s ideas pushing us to imagine more which is really the goal of this fellowship and much of sci-fi and speculative fiction.”
”This program gave me a new set of tools to regain a sense of freedom and excitement about teaching again.”
— Mitzi Uehara Carter, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Anthropology; Director, Global Indigenous Forum, FIU
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When I saw the Science and Fiction Fellowship being offered, I actually squealed out loud and applied on my little phone in the waiting room of my doctor’s office. I think I might have made her wait if had been called. That’s how excited I was. And the fellowship did not disappoint. I was able to let my nerdy science fiction flag fly high in this group. The cohort was so diverse, smart and so sublimely geeky. We shared, exchanged resources, and hyped each other’s ideas pushing us to imagine more which is really the goal of this fellowship and much of sci-fi and speculative fiction. Rhona’s moderating and cultivation of the group was so perfect. She encouraged and nudged us to be more collaborative and picked the most interesting speakers for our sessions. They each found a way to spark an entirely new set of ideas for interdisciplinary teaching approaches. In a time when much of our academic freedom is under attack, especially in my field, this program gave me a new set of tools to regain a sense of freedom and excitement about teaching again. I believe it provided me with the perfect set of tools to be more engaging and creative with insightful material that will inevitably help students continue to learn critical reading, writing, and research skills. My assigned partner is a chemist and together, we read and discussed several speculative fiction books to find the right fit for our students to think about the fields of chemistry and ethnography on the same field. She helped me understand the nuanced approaches to defining “toxicity” and “toxic” from her field and we worked on a joint speculative chemo-ethnographic interdisciplinary project that will help students consider new ways of researching human interactions (and meaning making) around toxic exposures. It’s a fun and creative way of teaching a body of work that is increasingly important in a world filled with increasing toxic substances/exposures. I expect the students will just as eager to absorb this material as we were in assembling it. Description text goes here
“The humanities instructors we have had the privilege of working with here had such creative and rich ideas for getting students to consider multiple perspectives (rather than just "getting to the right answer," which is frequently the goal in STEM), which is necessary for a meaningful grappling with of scientific and medical ethics..”
— Alexis Lainoff, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Biological Sciences, FIU
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As a biology teaching professor with future scientists and clinicians in my classroom, I know it is vital that my classes contain opportunities for students to learn about ethics but have struggled to create assignments to facilitate this learning in a meaningful way. The Sci Fi Institute provided a rich opportunity for me to think 'outside of the box." The humanities instructors we have had the privilege of working with here had such creative and rich ideas for getting students to consider multiple perspectives (rather than just "getting to the right answer," which is frequently the goal in STEM), which is necessary for a meaningful grappling with of scientific and medical ethics. I am so excited to implement the module that my group co-created in the coming semester. In fact, this experience is one that will keep on giving. The workshops where we heard from science fiction authors, and the forums where the larger group exchanged ideas have given me a running list of content and assignment ideas for the future.
We get many community college transfer students at FIU. The transition from one institution to another puts some extra challenges on transfer students, and I have often thought that one way to help bridge this transition would be for the faculty here to have more connections to the faculty at MDC and other community colleges in the area. Prior to this summer I had never met any MDC faculty; the Sci Fi institute changed that! I suspect that the connections that we made this summer can provide kindling for future collaborations in supporting the transition of transfer students between campuses.
“The Fellowship provided a dynamic platform where seasoned faculty members from both FIU and MDC converged. Each individual, equipped with their unique expertise, aimed at one unified goal: to revolutionize traditional classroom learning through the lens of science fiction. The confluence of diverse perspectives not only broadened my academic horizons but also provided actionable insights into the practical application of integrating science and fiction.”
”I realized that the missing link in my instructional methodology was the power of fiction to elucidate scientific concepts, facilitating an ease in bridging the gap between the tangible and the abstract.”
— Yograj Raghunauth, M.S.
Adjunct Faculty, Aviation, MDC
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The 2023 Faculty Fellowship at FIU’s Science and Fiction Lab was a remarkable experience for which I am deeply thankful. I had the chance to collaborate with outstanding faculty from both FIU and MDC, each contributing diverse ideas from their fields to enhance classroom learning through science fiction. The insights and skills I gained from this fellowship will stay with me indefinitely, ensuring more engaging classes. Initially uncertain about the fellowship due to my lack of interest in fiction, I now understand its value. My classes lacked the integration of science and fiction, which aids students in connecting the familiar with the unfamiliar — a crucial skill for technical subjects like the aviation courses I instruct at MDC.
From the onset, the Fellowship provided a dynamic platform where seasoned faculty members from both FIU and MDC converged. Each individual, equipped with their unique expertise, aimed at one unified goal: to revolutionize traditional classroom learning through the lens of science fiction. The confluence of diverse perspectives not only broadened my academic horizons but also provided actionable insights into the practical application of integrating science and fiction.
My initial skepticism, stemming from a limited engagement with fiction, was swiftly replaced with profound appreciation. I realized that the missing link in my instructional methodology was the power of fiction to elucidate scientific concepts, facilitating an ease in bridging the gap between the tangible and the abstract. This blending of disciplines is especially vital in technical subjects, such as the aviation courses I teach at MDC. The Lab's approach has unequivocally equipped me to deliver richer, more engaging, and relevant content to my students.
“I feel I was enriched by the side-conversations we all had about cosmology, art, and photography.”
“This institute helped remind me of my love for science fiction literature that I had discovered as a teen, browsing the stacks at the Hialeah Public Library, trying to get out of the house to find some peace and quiet. This institute reminded me of a part of my life that I loved…”
— Elio Arteaga, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor, Graphic Design/Web Design, MDC
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As an artist and a big science fiction (and science fact) nerd, I greatly enjoyed collaborating with Tigran Abrahamyan and Jahaira Galvez. I feel I was enriched by the side-conversations we all had about cosmology, art, and photography. The assigned readings were delightful to me; I was a big fan of Asimov, but I had never read Nightfall until this summer. Likewise, I was a fan of Le Guin’s work, but I had not read The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas until now. This institute helped remind me of my love for science fiction literature that I had discovered as a teen, browsing the stacks at the Hialeah Public Library, trying to get out of the house to find some peace and quiet. This institute reminded me of a part of my life that I loved, but often had to set aside due to enormous workloads. I plan to set aside some quiet time every now and then to continue reading science fiction literature. Thank you very much!
“Working in STEM, I don’t often have the opportunity to go outside my comfort zone when it comes to teaching philosophy; this course challenged me and encouraged me to seek new learning opportunities for my engineering students.”
— Jessica Ramella-Roman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering, FIU
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My experience with the course was extremely positive; I enjoyed the meetings enormously. We had excellent speakers illustrating diverse topics, and interaction with other faculty from different disciplines was incredibly enriching. Creating the module was challenging but very satisfying. I am very happy about the outcome of my collaboration with colleagues with MDC. Working in STEM, I don’t often have the opportunity to go outside my comfort zone when it comes to teaching philosophy; this course challenged me and encouraged me to seek new learning opportunities for my engineering students.
“Delving into the science behind some of my favorite topics and works of fiction was extremely motivating from a pedagogical standpoint, which has led to an added amount of enthusiasm as I start this new fall semester.”
— Patrick Anderson, Jr., M.F.A.
Associate Professor, English and Communications, MDC
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Participating in the Science & Fiction Lab was even more insightful than the premise sounded when I was presented with the opportunity. Delving into the science behind some of my favorite topics and works of fiction was extremely motivating from a pedagogical standpoint, which has led to an added amount of enthusiasm as I start this new fall semester. I'm looking forward to seeing the results of the module my partner and I created and comparing our results with the other fellowship participants at the end of the year.
“I enjoyed every workshop I attended; the presenters were talented educators who inspired me with a variety of ideas and new approaches to engage my students.”
— Maria E. Monzon-Medina, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Chemistry, MDC
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I just want to say thank you for the opportunity of being part of this Fellowship. I enjoyed every workshop I attended; the presenters were talented educators who inspired me with a variety of ideas and new approaches to engage my students. I have to say that it was challenging at times, but I was very fortunate to work alongside Dr. Mitzi Carter, who gave me a new perspective about science and together we were able to integrate Anthropology and STEM in a jigsaw that, I believe it can be used and adapted to any discipline (STEM or Art/Social Sciences).
“Where do I start explaining in words what I gained by participating in this cohort. […] Instructors need to regularly assess their course(s) in many ways, particularly their relevance to an ever-changing student body. How to keep them engaged in a way that will culminate in learning and a growth mind-set, arguably our ultimate goal. There are so many areas in which I feel I grew professionally from this workshop… […] I definitely increased positively my collaborative skills and reaching consensus.”
— Jorge Monserrate, M.S., RDN
Assistant Professor, Natural Sciences, Health and Wellness, MDC
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Where do I start explaining in words what I gained by participating in this cohort. I guess I can start by thanking you for allowing me to join and take this journey. Instructors need to regularly assess their course(s) in many ways, particularly their relevance to an ever-changing student body. How to keep them engaged in a way that will culminate in learning and a growth mind-set, arguably our ultimate goal. There are so many areas in which I feel I grew professionally from this workshop; enough to write an essay. I learned what a Jigsaw Puzzle Module is and its value to other educators. I definitely increased positively my collaborative skills and reaching consensus. I really can go on and on.
