Improving the Teaching of Genetics in High School to Avoid Instilling Misconceptions About Gender Differences (Collaborative Research: Donovan)

This project will study the aspects of genetics instruction that affect students' beliefs in gender essentialism, which is implicated in lowering girls' sense of STEM abilities, feeling of belonging in STEM classes, and interest in pursuing further education in STEM fields. The goal of the project is to answer important questions about how to teach genetics at the high school level in a manner that is scientifically accurate but does not have these detrimental side effects.