T’Isis Murray participated in the Mosquitoes & Me Comic Book Project in 2020 using the knowledge she learned from four years of Mosquitoes & Me Summer Camp.

Mosquitoes & Me Comic Book Project

The young mosquito scientists are applying their knowledge of mosquito biology, ecology and infectious disease to the creation of their own comic book stories. Additionally, they provide critical feedback and material for the professional comic book, to be published and released in 2021.

Aila Nesbitt (center front) told students in Ellen McKinney’s apparel, merchandising, and design class her story and picked out fabrics for the dresses they made her that accommodate her chemo port.

AMD students design clothing to accommodate child with cancer

“To be comfortable, to be wearing something that [Aila] feels happy wearing, I think is much more meaningful than just a normal class project.”

Ellen McKinney
Melissa Denlinger, Cassandra Dorius, Heather Rouse, and Quentin Riser are working to turn vast amounts of data into usable knowledge with real-world implications for children and families.

Human scientists on cutting edge of big data research

“We live in a world where everything we do produces data and if we can capture it and use it more effectively and efficiently, we could improve lives. It’s a ripe area for looking at how to use data to promote the well-being of families and vulnerable children. ”

Cassandra Dorius
Guowen Song is leading a research team that is working to improve the safety and function of protective gloves worn by firefighters and first responders.

Grant to improve firefighters and first responders’ protective gloves

“The current gloves are not really engineered to meet the basic requirements of protection, comfort and good manual performance. Firefighters lose more than 50 percent of their manual dexterity.”

Guowen Song

Researchers’ Study Named Editor’s Choice

“Instead of recommending a new diet or new food to increase iron absorption, we utilized something people are already consuming and is readily available.”

Amanda Bries

Iowa State researcher DC Lee discovered you dont have to invest a lot of time lifting weights to lower your risk for cardiovascular disease. Photo by Christopher Gannon

Want to live longer? Go for a run, says Iowa State researcher

“Most people say they don’t have time to exercise or to increase their physical activity, but I think most everyone can find five to 10 minutes per day to run for the health benefits.”

DC (Duck-chul) Lee
Associate Professor Larysa Nadolny received a Presidential Interdisciplinary Research Initiative grant to lead a team focused on exploring gaming as a tool to improve STEM education.

“Serious Gaming” for Serious STEM Education

“This research will cut across disciplines and has the potential to have Iowa State be known as the university centered on gaming to prepare students for the workforce of the future.”

Larysa Nadolny
Associate Professor Elizabeth Stegemöller leads a singing group for people with Parkinson’s disease.

Music Therapy for Persons with Parkinson’s Disease

“Some of the symptoms that are improving, such as finger tapping and the gait, don’t always readily respond to medication, but with singing they’re improving.”

Elizabeth Stegemöller
Auriel Willette, assistant professor in food science and human nutrition, researches degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

What you eat could impact your brain and memory

Assistant Professor Auriel Willette and his team of researchers in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition analyzed data and discovered a satiety hormone that, at higher levels, could decrease a person’s likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.