Outreach in Optics and Photonics
Rosario Porras-Aguilar's lab is dedicated to providing hands-on experiences in optics and photonics to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students through the "Label-Free STEM" initiative. This program aims to break stereotypes and foster educational excellence by bridging the gap between theory and practice. It enhances students' practical skills and inspires them through hands-on educational activities and engaging social media campaigns.
2021-2024
Label-Free STEM Education
Excellence in education and diversity are essential for developing our workforce in STEM, including optics and photonics. We know now that progress and innovation may be determined more by the diversity of working groups and by leveraging their individuality rather than by single scientific thinkers with high IQs. However, stereotypes can lessen the effectiveness of diversity and contribute to educational inequalities.
Why “Label-Free STEM” Education?
In microscopy, adding labels to a sample is crucial to identify and classify biological samples. However, the use of invasive labeling can damage the sample. In much the same way, applying labels to students can prevent the students from achieving success. The “Label-free STEM” initiative is designed to overcome stereotypes in STEM fields at multiple levels of education. This initiative will provide hands-on experiences on optics and photonics, with a distinct focus on inclusion and diversity. Our goal is to celebrate diversity and promote excellence in education regardless of our appearance.
UNC Charlotte - STEAM Innovation Expo and Charlotte Kids Fest – April 2024
About 300 participants in the Label-Free STEM Ed Initiative. The facilitators were students of the OSE Graduate Program in blue shirts, Brandon Norton, Ana Espinosa Momox, David Serrano (Postdoc), and Deependra Paudel (left to right).
Label-Free STEM - 2023
Facilitators and role models (wearing an orange lanyard) and attendees Label-Free STEM Initiative. Bottom right, Dr. Porras Aguilar sharing optical phenomena with attendees.
Label-Free STEM Education 2022
Hands-on activities in 2022. About 100 students and 8 facilitators from the Society of Physics Students at UNC Charlotte. Dr. Porras- Aguilar is leading the activity (top left). The facilitators are standing.
Outreach Activities in 2020
Dr. Porras-Aguilar's team, representing the Department of Physics and Optical Sciences in collaboration with the Center for STEM Education at UNC Charlotte, February 2020.
Dr. Porras-Aguilar speaking about optical lenses in February 2020.
Camilo Moreno, a Ph.D. student at UNC Charlotte, showing students how to use light to identify fake bills, February 2020.
SPIE Student Leadership Workshop, San Diego, CA August 2018 and 2019.
Dr. Porras-Aguilar, holding the 8 of clubs cards, serves as a facilitator at the SPIE Student Leadership Workshop in San Diego, CA, in August 2018 (left) and 2019 (right).
Outreach in Mexico
Committed to education, Dr. Porras-Aguilar was the advisor of the SPIE Women in Optics Chapter at INAOE in Puebla, Mexico, in 2016. With this vision in mind, this chapter has implemented various workshops based on optics for inclusive audiences. Together with Dr. Porras-Aguilar, the chapter organized a Journey to discuss the role of women in Science for schoolgirls in October 2017 and August 2018.
Visit of Prof. Glenn Boreman, President of SPIE 2017. September 2017, Puebla, Mexico.
The opening event of the SPIE WiO Student Chapter at INAOE. February 2017, Puebla, Mexico.
Dr. Porras-Aguilar as a speaker at the Career Advice for Graduate Students at the Meeting of Optica and SPIE Chapters of Mexico in Puebla, INAOE, 2016.
Dr. Porras-Aguilar giving the Seminar “Light from the Micro to the Macro Universe” at the National Science Fair of Science and Engineering, Concytep, Chiapas, Mexico 2016.
INAOE – Optica & SPIE Student Chapter Activities 2004
In 2004, Dr. Rosario Porras-Aguilar (top left) was a Student Chapter leader and facilitator of outreach activities (top right and bottom right), including the kaleidoscope project “A Window to Your Imagination,” in Puebla, Mexico
