Fellows come from all over the university, bringing their particular passions and living out the public purpose of their discipline through teaching and researching in, with and for community.
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Outreach programs in STEM provide powerful opportunities for learning. For kids, these programs can cultivate life-long interests and even ignite the pursuit of STEM careers. However, community spaces and outreach materials can be inaccessible for many people with communication and perceptual differences/disabilities. Furthermore, institutional opportunities to train STEM students in disability justice, accessibility and inclusive practices are rare.
The Birdsong Program brings together Cornell STEM students, TST BOCES students and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in a shared space to explore birds, social behavior and communication. Rooted in a commitment to disability justice, accessibility and inclusive practices, the program fosters curiosity about science while creating meaningful opportunities for learning and connection.
For Cornell students, Birdsong offers a rare and valuable training ground. Through collaborative work with BOCES students and engagement with the Lab of Ornithology, they gain practical experience in disability justice, participatory program design and flexible communication. These skills not only prepare them to communicate STEM content in more inclusive and impactful ways but also provide a deeper understanding of how to create equitable learning spaces in science outreach and research.