College Profile 2023

Apprehensive about science “They had a lot of apprehension about working with scientists because of Tuskegee and more recently having researchers who publish studies about negative aspects of their community who don’t give anything in return to benefit the community, betraying their trust,” Lyons said. Tuskegee references the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Ne gro Male sponsored by the U.S. Public Health Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study began in 1932 when there were no known effective treatments. But the study continued even after treatment with penicillin was widely available. Study participants were deceived into believing they were receiving treatment for the disease when they were not. “When Spiderwebs United” documents how the Tillery residents overcame their mistrust for scientific researchers and how a white researcher was able to build trust with the com munity. Powerful story “The story is so powerful. I wanted to find a platform to share it with not only the public, but with youth,” said Lyons, who is the grant’s principal investigator. “STEM justice work is difficult with seemingly insurmountable setbacks and challenges. Tillery’s story helps youth acknowledge their own emo

tions, address their experiences, realize they are not alone and inspires them to collaborate with their community members to achieve justice.” Project leaders are working with Tillery residents to develop the graphic novel’s narrative and art. While some of Lyons’ dissertation research will be used, Concerned Citizens of Tillery Director Gary Grant and Chair

Gary Redding will also inter view Tillery residents. A Til lery community advisory board will provide feedback on the

graphic novel, as will middle school youth participating in the after-school STEM club. The graphic novel is expected to be finalized by the end of summer 2025. Project leaders have partnered with Urban League of the Upstate to create an after-school STEM club curriculum that is built upon the graphic novel and components of radical healing. Urban

League was selected to lead curriculum

development because of their expertise and the team’s belief that it’s important the curriculum be developed within the local African American community. Project leaders and STEM Am bassadors — undergraduate African American students majoring in STEM — will pilot the after-school curriculum at Littlejohn Community Center in Clemson during the second and third year of the grant. After the pilot period, the project team and the Urban League of the Upstate will implement the STEM club curriculum at Seneca Middle School and Legacy Charter School in Greenville. As part of the project, students in the after-school STEM clubs will identify a school or community issue, investigate the cause of the problem, identify parties responsible for change and develop innovative solutions. The students will present their action plans to community agencies, organizations and governmental deci sion-making bodies.

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CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE