The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at JMU hosts an REU site that integrates Deaf, hearing and sign language interpreting students in chemical research. This program is funded by the National Science Foundation Division of Chemistry (CHE-2150091). Participants include Deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) students, underrepresented minority students and first-generation college students, primarily from institutions with limited research infrastructure. In addition, American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting students are immersed in the Science community, expanding the pool if interpreters who are comfortable in a STEM setting. Through the REU, both Deaf and hearing participants learn together, removing communication barriers in the scientific research environment, fostering cultural awareness, and growing a more inclusive scientific community.

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JMU faculty, along with Dr. Adebowale "Debo" Ogunjirin, a visiting faculty from Gallaudet University, provide research opportunities in all major sub-disciplines of chemistry, with expertise centered in synthesis, biophysical chemistry and materials. (See this partial list of mentors and project descriptions.) In addition to conducting research, REU students will also participate in professional development activities aimed at enhancing effective science communication. Adrienne Hooker, a faculty member from JMU’s School of Media Arts and Design (SMAD) co-hosts workshops on the use of visual communication to inform both scientific and non-scientific audiences about the impacts of the research conducted at JMU on science and society.

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Curious to learn more about this program? Check out our informational Removing the Barriers video. Demograpic information of our participants, as well as program assessment, assessment tools, and other data can be found on our Open Science Framwork (OSF) site.

• Participants include Deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) students, underrepresented minority students and first-generation college students, primarily from institutions with limited research infrastructure.
• In addition, American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting students are immersed in the Science community, expanding the pool if interpreters who are comfortable in a STEM setting.