Engineering student to support STEM literacy for Indigenous youth

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Roselle Barretto, graduate student in biological and agricultural engineering, Camarines Norte, Philippines, has been awarded a Phi Kappa Phi Literacy Grant to launch a STEM literacy initiative for Indigenous youth in the Philippines.

Barretto will lead the project, “Science in the Mountains: STEM Literacy for Indigenous Youth” designed to bring culturally responsive, hands-on STEM learning to children ages six to 15 years from the Manide Indigenous Tribe in Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, Philippines.

The funds will be used to purchase science books, experiment kits, microscopes and culturally responsive learning materials.

As project lead, Barretto will design the curriculum, coordinate partnerships with local government and nongovernmental organizations, and oversee implementation and impact assessment.

“This project reflects my commitment to making STEM education available to a wide variety of populations,” Barretto said. "The goal is to build foundational scientific literacy in a community where school attendance is below 12%, and to spark long-term academic engagement through science kits, experiments, and public science events.”

Barretto hopes that this model will be scalable and can be replicated in other underserved communities.