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Broader Impacts

Current Outreach Project Information

Explore some of the current ongoing projects that are happening in our college and on campus. We've also included some information on the BYU affiliated international projects.

Projects in the College of Computing, Math, and Science

    • CHEM Camp and Biochemp Camp
    • Talmage and REU fellows

  • 1. Social media: We have a very active Instagram account where we highlight students, field trips, companies, and more. We also have a YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok

    2. Geological Record: The department of Geology creates a yearly alumni magazine. We use this to keep our alumni involved and to encourage them to act as ambassadors for our department.

    3. Grade school visits: We regularly visit schools in the Utah Valley area with our Rock Box. The Rock Box is a collection of some of our best specimens of gems, minerals, and fossils. We show these items to students to teach them about the world around them and inspire them to become the next generation of geologists.

    4. Science Fair: The regional science fair brings in students from all over Utah and neighboring states. The Geology Department assists in the organization and judging of this event and has a booth with information and of course, the Rock Box.

    5. UtSTA: The Utah Science Teacher Association connects science teachers from all over Utah.

    6. Quey Hebrew Lecture: Every year the Geology Department hosts the Quey Hebrew Lecture Series, where we invite a special guest to speak to the general public on a unique geology topic.

    7. Geology Club/AAPG Fieldtrips: The Geology Department has two student clubs that take field trips around Utah as well as other states. We always invite non majors to join.

    8. Scholarships: The Geology Department reaches out to nearly all the high schools in Utah and Idaho and invites them to apply for the George Hansen Scholarship. This scholarship is specifically for incoming freshmen who enroll as a geology, environmental geology, or earth and space science education major.

    9. BYU Museum of Paleontology: There are 4 museums on BYU campus and the Geology Department oversees the Museum of Paleontology. The museum is open to the general public from 9-5 each weekday, free of charge. The museum offers tours to schools and private groups that call ahead. Because the museum’s main focus is research, it offers far more than displays.

    10. Lecture speaker Q&As: The Geology Department hosts a weekly seminar featuring professionals in the field of geology. After their presentations, they sit down to lunch with students and answer all questions that the students have about careers and other topics. All students are invited.

    • K-12 Programs: AMC8 and AMC1012 exams, BYU Math Circles, and Math Camp
    • Clubs: SAC, S(AC)Me, CURM, SIAM, Data Science, and Women in Math
    • Weusemath.org

  • MathEd students go into local school and help the students with their math.

  • Statisticians are recruited from the Utah Chapter of the American Statistical Association to visit local high school mathematics and statistics classes to talk about statistics as a discipline and careers in statistics.

Projects on Campus

  • The Tech Transfer Office serves BYU faculty by commercializing their technologies. Faculty can strengthen student engagement in research by offering hands-on lab experiences and participating in Tech Transfer events. Additionally, faculty can foster diversity in entrepreneurship by encouraging more women, especially in STEM, to connect with the Tech Transfer Office and consider entrepreneurship. Those interested in contributing to these impactful initiatives are invited to get involved.

    Contact

    Dave Brown, Director of Technology Transfer
    dave_brown@byu.edu

  • The Museum of Art (MOA) invites faculty to bring their classes to the MOA for curated tours, fostering engagement with art and culture. We welcome faculty participation with expertise on our current exhibitions in enhancing visitor learning. Faculty involvement may include expert panel discussions, guest lectures, gallery tours, collaborative class projects, or the creation of audio-visual content. Through these interdisciplinary contributions, faculty can significantly impact both student learning and community engagement at the MOA.

    Contact

    Philipp Malzl, Education Program Manager at MOA
    moa@byu.edu

  • Seeking help from subject matter experts to present at their events held each semester promoting awareness of sexual harassment and surrounding issues. Faculty with expertise in associated areas are encouraged to collaborate in expanding educational efforts and increasing campus awareness of these critical resources.

    Contact

    David Rasmussen, Title IX Coordinator
    title9@byu.edu

  • Seeking faculty support to increase engagement in their initiatives, particularly among freshmen and women of color. Faculty can help by sharing Body Project materials in classes or allowing peer-led presentations, and are invited to collaborate on research measuring The Body Project’s (see video here) impact for BYU women.

    Contact

    Jackie Nuñez, Assistant Manager WSR
    jackie_nunez@byu.edu

International Projects

  • Project NameDescriptionBYU Faculty ContactCountries and dates of travel
    UNSA Faculty – BYU Student Collaboration Program

    Project goal:

    • Provide BYU students opportunities to collaborate as TAs or RAs with UNSA faculty on social, community, academic and/or research projects. 
    • Provide support to UNSA faculty on their projects 

    Team Description:
    1 Teacher Education faculty member
    2 student supervisors (undergraduate students)
    5 undergraduate RAs working with UNSA faculty

    		Juan Freire
    freire@byu.edu
    (Teacher Education; Spanish speaker)
    Democracy projectProject goals:
    1. Meet with senior public servants in Ecuador and Peru to discuss partnerships with our Impact Evidence website (https://impactevidence.org/) and to better understand their views of democracy. 
    2.  Meet with local people to better understand their views of democracy and the role of evidence in policymaking. 

    Notes: We will be based primarily in Lima and Quito where most senior public servants are located. We plan to make short trips to other locations (potentially areas with higher indigenous populations) to see if we receive different responses. We have high-level contacts in the Ecuadoran government through a student whose father is a chief political advisor to Pres. Noboa. We are making contacts with high-level Peruvian officials.

    Team Description:
    5 to 6 political science students that speak Spanish or indigenous languages

    		Darren Hawkins darren_hawkins@byu.edu
    (Political Science; Spanish speaker)
    • June 16-20: Quito, Ecuador 
    • June 21-24: additional locations, Ecuador 
    • June 25-28: Lima, Peru 
    • July 1-2: other locations, Peru 
    Waorani building project2024-25 Project goals:
    1. Develop enclosed structure using only local materials  
    2. Structure design be replicated by local people 

    Notes: Members of the Waorani community have asked for help in building a structure that could be used for economic purposes and to regulate the entrance of nonresident visitors as new roads are being developed into their territory. Faculty have a long-term relationship in the community regarding language documentation through Arizona State (KLP).

    Team Description:
    Faculty from Civil and Construction Engineering, Biology, Linguistics, as well as BYU students
    Working in partnership with:

    • La Universidad de las Americas (UDLA) 
    • Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INABIO) 
    • Arizona State University Kichwa Language Program (KLP) 

    Janis Nuckolls
    janis_nuckolls@byu.edu
    (Linguistics; indigenous languages)

    Dan Dewey
    ddewey@byu.edu
    (Linguistics)

    Seth Bybee
    seth.bybee@byu.edu
    (Biology)

    Paul Frandsen
    Paul_frandsen@byu.edu
    (Plant and Wildlife Science)

    Andrew South
    Andrew_south@byu.edu
    (Civil and Construction Engineering)

    • Waorani, Amazon region, Ecuador 
    • Travel to Iyarina and Waorani community (Summer 2024) 
    • Fall 2024 – 4 student interns to Iyarina and surround communities 
    • Travel to Iyarina and surrounding community (Sp or Sum 2025) – 4 students & 3 faculty
    Addition to Waorani project2024-25 project addition:
    • Investigate job embedded support and assistance for public school teachers to connect academic instruction in primary school with traditional, Indigenous ways; build government and NGO contacts 
    		Bryant Jensen
    Bryant_jensen@byu.edu
    (Teacher Education)
    		Summer 2024
    Project Evaluation and Assessment Team (PEAT)Project goals:
    1. Collaborate with Yapay Bolivia (NGO focused on improving lives of vulnerable children and women). 
    2. Collect information to help enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of Yapay Bolivia’s programs. Focus in 2024 primarily on initiatives supporting orphans, education, and maternal healthcare. 

    Notes: PEAT trains BYU students to evaluate the impact and efficiency of international development programs.

    Team Description:
    Faculty from department of Sociology and their students

    		Scott Sanders
    scott_sanders@byu.edu
    (Sociology)
    		Trip Completed for 2024
    • April 30 - May 1: Santa Cruz, Bolivia 
    • May 2 - May 4: Sucre 
    • May 4 - May 8: Cochabamba 
    • May 7 – May 10: La Paz 
    Prosthetics projectProject Goals:
    1. Work with Prótesis Imbabura clinic developing and implementing consumable prosthetic parts such as foot shells and liners. 
    2. Develop new wheelchair cushions to diminish pressure sores. 
    3. Develop pressure sensor mat for pressure measurements. 
    4. Conduct project evaluations and develop business plans and create health videos. 

    Notes: Wheelchair cushions are in collaboration with Church Humanitarian. We have a long-term relationship with the Prótesis Imbabura clinic.

    Team Description:
    Faculty and students from Nursing, Engineering, Sociology, Business, and Media Arts

    Randy Lewis
    randy.lewis@byu.edu
    (Chemical Engineering)

    Terri Bateman
    terri_bateman@byu.edu
    (Mechanical Engineering)

    Corinna Tanner
    Corinna.tanner@byu.edu
    (Nursing)

    Ryan Rasmussen
    Ryan-rasmussen@byu.edu
    (Nursing)

    Scott Summers
    Scott-summers@byu.edu
    (Nursing)

    Britt Berrett
    Britt.berrett@byu.edu
    (Management)

    Scott Sanders
    Scott_sanders@byu.edu
    (Sociology)

    		Trip Completed for 2024
    • April 29 – May 5: Quito and Ibarra, Ecuador 

    Upcoming Trips

    • August 19-23, 2024 Ibarra, Ecuador 
    • January 13-17, 2025, Ibarra, Ecuador 
    • April 28-May 16, 2025, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru 
    SENCICO projectProject Goals:
    1. Collaborate with SENCICO in Los Olivos, Lima to develop low-cost sensors to measure pollutants from cookstoves. 
    2. Develop sensors that can be used to assess and certify cookstoves being implemented in country. 

    Notes: SENCICO is a Peruvian government agency responsible for training.

    Team Description:
    Students from Engineering and Physics

    Randy Lewis
    randy.lewis@byu.edu
    (Chemical Engineering)

    Terri Bateman
    terri_bateman@byu.edu
    (Mechanical Engineering)

    		Trip Completed for 2024
    • May 5 – May 7: Los Olivos, Lima, Peru 
    • May 10 – May 11: Puno, Peru 

    Upcoming Trips

    • August 19-23, 2024  
      Bolivia and Lima, Peru 
    • January 13-17, 2025, Bolivia and Lima, Peru 
    • April 28-May 16, 2025, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Lima Peru 
    Quinoa projectsProject Goals:
    1. Develop and implement quinoa washers to increase local farmer production 
    2. Develop quinoa grinder and popper 
    3. Potentially increase growth of quinoa and popped quinoa to sell at higher prices 
    4. Conduct project evaluations and develop business plans 

    Notes: PROINPA is a research agency located in Viacha, Bolivia associated with quinoa production. The director, Alejandro Bonifacio, is a BYU PhD graduate under the guidance of Rick Jellen. YAPAY Bolivia is an NGO formed by former Latter-day Saint missionaries that served in Bolivia.

    Team Description:
    Faculty and students from Engineering, Sociology, Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Food Sciences and Management.

    Randy Lewis
    randy.lewis@byu.edu
    (Chemical Engineering)

    Terri Bateman
    terri_bateman@byu.edu
    (Mechanical Engineering)

    Rick Jellen
    rick_jellen@byu.edu
    (Plant and Wildlife)

    Laura Jefferies
    Laura_Jefferies@byu.edu
    (Food Science)

    Hayley Pierce
    Hayley_pierce@byu.edu
    (Sociology)

    Britt Berrett
    Britt.berrett@byu.edu
    (Management)

    		Trip Completed 2024
    • May 7 – May 9: Viacha, near La Paz, Bolivia 

    Upcoming Trips

    • August 19-23, 2024 Bolivia 
    • January 13-17, 2025, Bolivia 
    • April 28-May 16, 2025, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru 
    BYU-Pathway EvaluationProject Goals:
    1. BYU students will evaluate how BYU-Pathway could better serve potential students in Peru.  

    Notes: This project is being coordinated with the Area Presidency. BYU students will participate in a class spring term on evaluation to create the evaluation methods, instruments, and preparations for the trip. 

    Team Description:
    8 BYU students
    Paul Pinkett (BYU-Pathway)
    BYU Education faculty

    		Richard West
    rickwest@byu.edu
    (Instructional Psychology & Technology)
    		June 10-24: Lima, Arequipa, Cusco Peru
    Water Quality in the Andes

    Project Goals:
    Assess water quality at sources

    Working in partnership with
    UDLA – Quito
    *Blanca Riós-Touma (blanca.rios@udla.edu.ec)

    UNSA – Arequipa
    *Ana Maria Gutierrez (agutierrezv@unsa.edu.pe)

    *Luis Zegarra (lzegarraa@unsa.edu.pe)
    *Dennis Macedo (dmacedova@unsa.edu.pe)

    Paul Frandsen
    paul_frandsen@byu.edu
    (Plant and Wildlife Sciences)

    Greg Carling
    greg.carling@byu.edu
    (Geology)

    		June 2025
    Child Development in Remote Ecuadorian RegionsProject Goals:
    1. Determine predictors (positive influences and risk factors) of cognitive, physical, and psychological development of children in remote regions of Ecuador 
    2. Implement interventions to support these children 

    Note: This is a collaborative project with Utah State University, and the focus of BYU faculty and students has been on language use and linguistic development

    Team Description:
    This project involves 3 faculty from USU and 1 from BYU (though BYU involvement could expand). We have also partnered with faculty at Casa Grande U in Ecuador and with the Ecuador National Directorate of Health Intelligence.

    		Dan Dewey
    ddewey@byu.edu
    (Linguistics)    		Ecuador, every summer (longitudinal 10-year study)