By Jenna Somers
In September, a delegation from Pakistan visited Vanderbilt University for the weeklong STEM-Powered Immersion Conference, hosted by Peabody College of education and human development. Six faculty members from Sukkur IBA University and Qasim Aslam, founder and chief executive officer of Beyond the Classroom, participated in a comprehensive series of seminars, workshops, school visits and other activities related to STEM education and academic leadership. The conference was part of a year-long program where faculty and students from Sukkur IBA have been learning virtually in seminars and engaging in projects to improve STEM education.
An 18-month, $300,000 grant awarded in 2024 by the U.S. Department of State supports the collaboration. The goal of the grant is to develop a lasting partnership between Peabody and Sukkur IBA, with support from Beyond the Classroom, to strengthen STEM educational pathways for students in Sukkur IBA's Department of Education. Ellen Goldring, distinguished research dean and Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy, leads the grant.
"We were delighted to welcome the faculty from Sukkar IBA to Vanderbilt," Goldring said. "This visit offered a unique opportunity to share student-centered teaching and learning approaches, both in our classrooms and within our community's STEM programs, and to highlight Peabody's faculty research partnerships with local schools. The deep discussions around faculty research and teaching and learning in global contexts are key to the ongoing collaboration."
The conference explored STEM education through immersion seminars. Participants learned about building research capacities in STEM fields as well as teaching and learning practices and practical strategies for addressing challenges in academic and professional contexts. Hands-on activities, collaborative workshops and interactive discussions deepened understanding of these topics.
"Our visit to Peabody College was a unique immersion experience into best interdisciplinary practices rooted within a great tradition of learning and excellence," said AL Karim Datoo, assistant professor at Sukkur IBA.
Camilla Benbow, Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education and Human Development gave the conference's opening remarks. Throughout the week, faculty from Peabody College, the School of Engineering and the College of Arts and Science spoke at the conference. It was led by Nancy Dickson, director of Peabody Global Initiatives, and Chris Vanags, director of the Peabody Research Office, and research assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences.
A panel discussion on research partnerships and initiatives at Vanderbilt was led by Golnaz Arastoopour Irgens, assistant professor of human-centered technologies, and Sharon Weiss and Gautam Biswas, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professors of Engineering. They represented Vanderbilt's research initiatives, LIVE: Learning Innovation Incubator, Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and the Institute for Software Integrated Systems, respectively.
Another panel discussion on academic research in STEM included Heidi Carlone, Katherine Johnson Chair in Science Education, Melissa Gresalfi, professor of mathematics education and learning sciences and learning environment design, and Jessica Watkins, assistant professor of science education.
Exploring Vanderbilt and Nashville's STEM environments
The delegation toured STEM education venues at Vanderbilt and throughout Nashville. They visited the Peabody campus Smart Meadow, Vanderbilt's campus and arboretum and the Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory. William Kenneth Teets, the Dyer Observatory's director, highlighted Vanderbilt's long history in advancing astronomy and offered a firsthand look through the telescope.
Sarah Delisle Fecht, senior program director of Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth, spoke about PTY's activities to promote STEM engagement. Angela Eeds, executive director of the Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach, and Desmond Campbell, program manager of middle school initiatives for CSEO, also presented on the Scientist in the Classroom Partnership, Day of Discovery and the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt. They also gave tours of the CSEO makerspace in the Six Magnolia building on Peabody's campus.
At John Early Museum Magnet Middle School, the delegation observed the class, Teaching Mathematics in Secondary Schools, which was followed by a discussion about the class and a tour of the school. At the Tennessee Nature Academy, they learned about the school's approach to nature-based learning and play, which focuses on supporting students' academic success, building social and community connections and promoting students' well-being. Likewise, they visited the Country Music Hall of Fame and learned about the museum's STEAM school outreach programs.
Visiting Pakistan
Following this conference, Sukkur IBA faculty will implement innovative practices to address educational challenges in their classrooms in Pakistan. Peabody faculty will travel to Pakistan later in the year to support learning advancements across Sukkur IBA and peer institutions to ensure knowledge gained from the immersion seminar translates into culturally aligned actions and outcomes.
