Interview with Dr. Matthew Ndonwi - YSP's October Volunteer of the Month

Written by Peggy Ni - YSP Volunteer

Peggy Ni: How did you get involved with YSP in the first place?

Matthew Ndonwi: The very first time I got involved was when Jen Mosher sent out some sort of notice for volunteers for the TRP program, and that was way back in 2007 or so.

PN: And could you talk about what you do for the TRP program as well as Winning Young Hearts and Minds?

MN: For the TRP program, initially I started as a mentor for one of the teachers when I first joined TRP – and actually I did that twice. And then subsequently I joined the Organizing Committee. And since then, I have been part of that committee helping with recruiting teachers, interviewing them, placing them in labs, taking part in all the programs throughout the summer while they are here. Sometimes I also help with the Summer Focus program, like part of the Boot Camp. On the other side is Winning Young Hearts and Minds, a program that I started. I think what really inspired me to initiate that program was the fact that I realized most of our YSP programs are hands-on, trying to bring in these students by hands-on work. But I also felt the need to kind of engage them in dialogue. It's a 1 hour interactive PowerPoint, and I've also adapted it to 30 min. Initially it was meant as 1 hour for high school students but when I started presenting it, then it became so popular that I felt like 30 min. [would be good] for 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th graders. It's kind of a 3-part presentation. The first part of the presentation is trying to get the students introduced to science – demystify science from what, at the time I meet them, they think science is, trying to get them to see practical aspects rather than just what they see in movies which is not an accurate presentation. So I walk them through a series of different careers and then somewhere in the middle of the talk I engage them into what the call of science really is, … the different subjects they study in school – math, biology, and physics. And I kind of give them tips on how they can become any of the scientists in those various careers. And finally, I use myself as an example … of what I'm trying to encourage them to do. Despite every obstacle that they might have ahead of them in starting science, it's something that's doable. So I kind of just tell them my personal story of how I became a scientist.

PN: How often do you do this presentation?

MN: So, I wouldn't say it's very regular. Sometimes we'll have high seasons or low seasons. What I would say is for every year I do about maybe 10 to 20 outings since I started. So I present to students who come here for field trips, I go to classrooms, and there is collaboration with the Science Center. … And most recently I was contacted by Harris-Stowe to go present to them, and that was just last week. It's interesting – it started as a high school thing that has gone down to middle-school and now freshmen in college.

PN: Well, clearly the message is broadly applicable.

MN: Exactly

PN: Can you tell me about your most memorable experience while volunteering?

MN: I would say every year my most memorable experience with the program is when the Summer Focus students present their research. I think that's outstanding – to see them come in kind of naïve and see them go out like almost polished scientists when you listen to them present their talk. I don't think there's anything stronger than that.

PN: You've been volunteering for 4 years. Throughout the years, how do you find the time to still remain committed year after year?

MN: Initially, the main thing that attracted me to the program is the interest in the program. I don't think that interest can be taken away. I'm a full time researcher as well – and I do teach one course in the fall and one course in the summer – but … research is one of those things that are really flexible.

PN: Is there anything new you want to incorporate with the TRP Organizing Committee or with your presentation in the upcoming future?

MN: With the Presentation … I think over the past 4 years I've kind of improved it every year but the main thing that I really want to do is to see how I can capture more people … so what I was thinking of is to set up a website where I could incorporate maybe resources for students … [and] a video streaming of the presentation

YSP Summer Focus Program - Applications Now Available

Applications for the YSP Summer Focus Program are now available to download on our YSP website through this link: http://ysp.wustl.edu/Programs/SummerFocus.html

Summer Focus provides outstanding high school students with funded research internships at the Washington University Medical Center. Each student works directly with two graduate students, the mentor and the tutor. The mentor works one-on-one with the student in the lab on a specific project, while the tutor prepares the student for their research experience. In order to be eligible a student must currently be a junior in High School and attend a St. Louis City/County/Metro area school.

Fostering diversity in science and public science literacy

Our YSP student director, Kate Chiappinelli, wrote an article on YSP for ASBMB Today (AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY). It appears in the October edition of this publication and also on their website.

http://www.asbmb.org/asbmbtoday/asbmbtoday.aspx?id=14604