# Worlds of Connections: Engaging Youth with Health Research through Network Science and Stories in Augmented Reality

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN · 2020 · $257,357

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This application requests support to enable a team of experienced science educators and biomedical and
behavioral health network scientists to develop and implement the Worlds of Connections curriculum. Most
middle school students are familiar with patient care-related health careers (e.g., nurses, dentists, surgeons),
but few know about emerging careers in network science that can be leveraged to improve population health.
This innovative and research-based science program is strategically designed to increase awareness of,
understanding of, and interest in the important role of network science for health. This project will design learning
activities that incite interest in network science applications to biomedical and public health research. The long-
term goal is to enhance the diversity of the bio-behavioral and biomedical workforce by increasing interest in
network science among members of underrepresented minority communities and to promote public
understanding of the benefits of NIH-funded research for public health. The goal of this application is to identify
and create resources that will overcome barriers to network science uptake among underserved minority middle
school youth. The central hypothesis is that the technology-rich field of network science will attract segments
of today’s youth who remain uninterested in conventional, bio-centric health fields. Project activities are designed
to improve understanding of how informal STEM experiences with network science in health research can
increase STEM identities, STEM possible selves, and STEM career aspirations among youth from groups
historically underrepresented in STEM disciplines at the center of health science research (Aim 1) and create
emerging media resources via augmented reality technologies to stimulate broad interest in and understanding
of the role of network science in biomedical and public health research (Aim 2). A team led by University of
Nebraska-Lincoln sociologists will partner with the University of Nebraska at Omaha; state museums; centers
for math, science, and emerging media arts; NIH-funded network scientists; educators; community learning
centers at local public schools; learning researchers; undergraduates; software professionals; artists; augmented
reality professionals; storytellers; and evaluation experts to accomplish these goals and ensure out of school
learning will reinforce Next Generation Science Standards. The Worlds of Connections project is expected to
impact 35,250 youth and 20,570 educators in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska by: adding network science
modules to ongoing 6th-8th-grade afterschool STEM clubs in community learning centers; adding network science
for health resources to a summer graduate course on “activating youth STEM identities” for sixth to twelfth grade
STEM teachers; connecting teachers with local network scientists; creating free, downloadable, high-quality
emerging media arts-enhanced stories; and pub...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9995524
- **Project number:** 5R25GM129836-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN
- **Principal Investigator:** JULIA MCQUILLAN
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $257,357
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9995524

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9995524, Worlds of Connections: Engaging Youth with Health Research through Network Science and Stories in Augmented Reality (5R25GM129836-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9995524. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*