Written by Sophie Rossitto // Photo provided by HU16

During a visit to a library in Gravette, Arkansas, this past summer, one Harding student saw firsthand the potential of science education to bring people together.

Junior JoAnna Campbell said she traveled to the town to give a presentation about science concepts through NASA@ My Library, a program that promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in underserved communities across the country.

Campbell said although the library in Gravette was small, she enjoyed seeing many people from the community attend her presentation.

“It’s good to be a part of something bigger than your purpose that you’re trying to accomplish,” Campbell said. “So it was really nice seeing how all those people in that town came together for that certain event.”

Campbell has also presented her work at Harding Academy and said she hopes to visit more local schools. She has incorporated many visual elements into her programs, including original videos, demonstrations and printable handouts. Her presentations focus on an array of topics: different forms of life, space science and NASA initiatives such as the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. For one demonstration, Campbell showed children how to grow plants in Martian soil.

Chemistry Department Chair Cindy White has served as Campbell’s adviser for these projects. She said Campbell has shown strong organizational skills and an eye for detail, as well as a knack for connecting with young audiences.

“She has really good public speaking skills, and so she’s able to convey information, and she’s also very good at bringing information down and putting it on children’s level and things like that,” White said.

White said she and chemistry professor Heather Hollandsworth applied for a grant from NASA@ My Library in 2021, and Harding was one of six universities that received funds. The professors encouraged students to apply through Harding to get involved with the program.

Campbell said she emailed the head of NASA@ My Library and was later approved to work with the program. Hollandsworth said three other Harding students were also chosen, but they have since graduated or moved on from the program.

The Harding students collaborated with eight libraries across the nation, including two in Alaska, to create educational presentations, Hollandsworth said. They did most of the work virtually, but Campbell took the initiative to go to Gravette in person.

“She’s done a great job with going above and beyond what we even asked her to do,” Hollandsworth said.

Campbell said she hopes her work with the program, as well as additional research she is doing through NASA to study water filtration, will help her build a strong resume to apply for physician assistant school.

Campbell also said she has learned a lot about the vast scope of life science while working on the library projects.

“It’s just insane how much life there is that we don’t even know about,” Campbell said, “and that there’s such an energy with children that they want to learn more, and it’s kind of exciting for the future in STEM.”