The ASMCUE 2022 microbrew session I watched tonight was entitled “Microbrew. Empathetically Engaging With Our Community Through A Service Learning Project.” Pete Chandrangsu, an assistant professor at Scripps College, and Jessie Lee Mills, an assistant professor at Pomona College, were the presenters. They collaborated with the Latino & Latina Roundtable and Pitzer College. Chandrangsu teaches a microbiology course for juniors and seniors and had course learning outcomes including “to develop and expand our understanding of and capacity for active participation in a community.” They wanted students to share their concerns and anxieties about connecting with peers from another institution. To empower students for community engagement, they focused on three aspects: scientific knowledge, active learning, empathy, and asset-based community engagement. With empathy they aimed to “learn from and engage with people.” Lee Mills wanted to use tools that promote “radical listening, engagement, and empathy.” Based on the survey, Lee Mills anticipated dealing with imposter syndrome and defining empathy. Lee Mills spoke about “employing empathy to communicate across emotions” to “try-on” ideas and listen actively. Chandrangsu then explained how they worked on community science dialogues with the theme of “health for the whole self.” All the discussions were bilingual, English and Spanish in both directions. Fifty participants worked on groups and created deliverables about microbiology and community connections. Student comments highlighted how they were prompted to think beyond their academic bubbles. The presenters shared a thoughtful and thought-provoking explanation for how they addressed empathy and helped all participants communicate across the academia/community lines that are often drawn. I appreciate how they included translators for both English and Spanish speakers.
