Graduate students at Cornell University are gaining confidence in science communication and bringing hands-on learning into K-12 classrooms across New York State. Through the Graduate Student School Outreach Program (GRASSHOPR), graduate students partner with teachers in Tompkins, Ontario, and surrounding counties, using hands-on materials from the CHESS Lending Library to engage students in interactive STEM lessons while developing their own teaching and communication skills.
For Sohinee Bera, Cornell Communication graduate student and GRASSHOPR board member, the experience of working with children in the classroom has been transformative. “It was a little daunting at first, but it was really fun. The kids are excited because they get a break from their regular curriculum and learn something more hands-on,” she said. “For us as grad students, it’s an opportunity to step out of our research silos and learn how to communicate our work to a broader audience. That skill is crucial—not just in the classroom but for securing funding and sharing our research more widely.”