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Grand Challenges Project Seeks to Increase Participation of Underrepresented Students in STEM through Sports Analytics Research

September 30, 2024

One of the current challenges our nation faces is the disparities present in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, wherein underrepresented minority students and women are significantly less likely to graduate with STEM majors. Due to under-privileged backgrounds, hardships caused by generations of discrimination, and ongoing racial segregation patterns in schools, the pathways to STEM education are far fewer and more difficult for many of the nation's children. 

With support from a University of Maryland Grand Challenges Grant, Assistant Professor of Mathematics Yanir Rubinstein is creating an enrichment outreach opportunity for secondary school students, aged 14-18, that will utilize a mobile version of his existing mathematical sports performance research laboratory, which can be easily transported to schools in the DMV area.

This experience will showcase the relevance of STEM to students’ lives, and the empowerment STEM offers in terms of attractive career paths they can relate to. The PI will focus the outreach for this project on secondary schools in the DMV area with disproportionate numbers of underrepresented minorities.

Dr. Rubinstein and his team developed and piloted a new course in Spring 2024, MATH498R, “Experiential Learning: Mathematics of Sports Performance Analytics.” This already marks the second time the team is running this pilot, with lessons learned from the first pilot incorporated into this latest version of the course. A new outreach focus was added to the curriculum by having students present their course work from the semester to high-school students in underserved schools in order to get them excited about STEM through sports.
Dr. Rubinstein and his team are now working on submitting a curriculum proposal to make this a permanently offered course in the Mathematics Department. 

In addition, through many efforts, the team has established the Mobile Mathematical Motion Lab. This involved purchasing, installing, connecting, and testing multiple equipment components. The team is still in the final stages of testing some of the components. Dr. Rubinstein has also recruited students to the lab and is currently reaching out to high schools in the DMV to coordinate and expand outreach activities, especially in underserved communities.

For more information about this Grand Challenges project, visit: https://research.umd.edu/STEM-participation