Country of Residence
United States
Age
17
Project title
LabAccess
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
Bridging the Lab Gap will partner with universities and scientific institutions to redirect surplus science and biochemistry equipment to underserved middle and high schools, empowering students with limited laboratory access to establish hands-on learning spaces, explore scientific research, and pursue their curiosity beyond the classroom.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shyllerson-j-a03325424/
Project Category
My project is a brand new / emerging idea
Project Stage
Idea (We’re hoping to get started in the future)
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
The spark behind Bridging the Lab Gap began with my desire to turn an idea into meaningful change in my community. Initially, I hoped to pursue this vision through the Mayor’s Youth Council, where I wanted the opportunity to speak with congressional representatives and potentially the mayor about educational inequality in science. I believed that reaching decision-makers could help me address the lack of laboratory resources available to students in underserved schools. However, when I was rejected, I faced a choice: let that disappointment stop me or find another way to move forward. I chose to keep looking. Rather than seeing one closed door as the end of my idea, I searched for opportunities that would allow me to develop it independently and turn my concern into action. That search led me to the Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership, where I saw an opportunity to transform my initial vision into a concrete community initiative. My “aha” moment was realizing that improving access to science education did not have to begin with a conversation with a government official. It could begin by connecting universities and scientific institutions with schools that lack essential laboratory equipment. If institutions have surplus tools and students have the curiosity to explore biochemistry but lack the resources, I saw an opportunity to bring those two groups together.
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
Science education should not depend on a school's ability to afford laboratory equipment. Yet, students at under-resourced middle and high schools may lack the tools needed to explore subjects like biochemistry through hands-on experiments. Although textbooks teach scientific concepts, students also need opportunities to apply what they learn, develop practical skills, and discover their interests in scientific research. This problem matters because a student's access to scientific exploration should not be determined by their school's resources. A student fascinated by genetics, chemistry, or medicine deserves the opportunity to investigate those interests, even if their school cannot afford expensive laboratory equipment. Through Bridging the Lab Gap, I hope to connect universities and scientific institutions with underserved schools that need these resources. By redirecting surplus educational equipment to schools where it can make a difference, I aim to help students build safe, supervised laboratory learning opportunities and experience science beyond the textbook. Ultimately, this project is about more than donating equipment; it is about opening doors. Every student deserves the chance to explore their curiosity, develop scientific skills, and envision a future in STEM, regardless of the resources available in their classroom.
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
Bridging the Lab Gap will connect universities and scientific institutions with underserved middle and high schools that lack laboratory equipment for hands-on science education. First, I will identify schools interested in expanding their science programs and determine which tools they need. I will then contact university science departments, research laboratories, and other institutions to request donations of usable surplus equipment, such as microscopes, glassware, and educational models. By matching donations to each school's needs, I hope to turn unused resources into meaningful learning opportunities. Before distribution, equipment will be checked for condition, suitability, and safety. I will collaborate with science teachers to ensure donated tools can support age-appropriate experiments under proper supervision and safety procedures. I plan to begin with a small pilot involving a few schools, evaluate its impact through teacher and student feedback, and track how the donated equipment expands access to laboratory activities. These results will help me improve the process and build partnerships for future expansion. My goal is to create a sustainable network in which institutions contribute available resources and schools gain opportunities they might otherwise lack. By making hands-on science more accessible, Bridging the Lab Gap will help students move beyond textbooks, explore scientific questions, and discover their potential in STEM
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
Bridging the Lab Gap is currently in its planning stage, and my immediate goal is to turn this vision into a practical initiative that expands access to hands-on science education. Although I have not yet distributed equipment or reached participating schools, I believe the project can make a meaningful difference by connecting institutions with surplus laboratory resources to students who need them. Initially, I aim to partner with 2–3 underserved middle and high schools and secure donations from universities, research laboratories, and scientific organizations. I will measure progress by tracking the number of donor partnerships established, equipment items collected and delivered, schools served, and students gaining access to laboratory activities. The impact I hope to create extends beyond the equipment itself. A donated microscope or other appropriate laboratory tool could help a teacher introduce students to concepts they have previously encountered only in textbooks. With proper supervision and safety procedures, these resources could support hands-on learning, encourage scientific curiosity, and help students explore potential interests in biochemistry and other STEM fields. My long-term vision is to expand the initiative to additional schools and establish lasting relationships with donors so that equipment can continue reaching classrooms where it is needed.
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
Bridging the Lab Gap uses resource-sharing to make hands-on science education more accessible. Instead of relying on under-resourced schools to purchase expensive laboratory equipment, I will connect them with universities and scientific institutions that may have usable surplus supplies. The project's distinctive approach is matching donations to each school's specific needs. By consulting science teachers before collecting equipment, I can help ensure that donations support classroom lessons and are appropriate for students. Rather than organizing a one-time donation drive, I aim to build lasting partnerships between donors and schools. Starting with a small pilot will allow me to gather feedback, measure results, and improve the process before expanding to additional schools. Although equipment donation programs already exist, Bridging the Lab Gap will focus on connecting scientific institutions directly with underserved middle and high schools to expand access to biochemistry and STEM learning. Its innovation lies in turning existing scientific resources into practical educational opportunities for students who might otherwise lack them. Ultimately, I want to show that improving science education does not always require buying more equipment. Sometimes, meaningful change begins by connecting resources that already exist with the students who need them.
How many people are on your team?
4
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
Bridging the Lab Gap currently has a team of four fellow students from my school. As we develop the initiative, I plan to share leadership by assigning responsibilities based on each member’s strengths, including researching potential university donors, contacting schools, coordinating equipment donations, and tracking our progress. We will collaborate on decisions, share ideas, and hold one another accountable as we work toward expanding access to science education.
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
Over the next three months, my team and I will turn Bridging the Lab Gap into an actionable initiative. First, we will contact underserved schools to identify their laboratory needs and research universities and scientific institutions willing to donate surplus equipment. Next, we will divide responsibilities among our four team members, reach out to potential donors, and establish partnerships. Our initial goal is to connect with two to three schools and secure our first equipment donations. We will ensure donations are functional, appropriate, and safe for supervised educational use. We will also gather teacher feedback to evaluate how the equipment supports hands-on learning. After launching our pilot, we will use our results to improve the process, strengthen donor relationships, and expand to more schools over the following year. Ultimately, I hope to build a sustainable network that makes science education more accessible to students regardless of their school's resources.
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
Since Bridging the Lab Gap is still in its early stages, I am focused on building a team and developing strategies to engage others. I have already brought together four fellow students from my school who will help me turn this idea into action. Together, we plan to raise awareness about the lack of laboratory resources in underserved schools and the importance of equitable access to hands-on science education. To engage more people, we will contact science teachers, university departments, and research laboratories to explain our mission and invite them to participate. We will encourage scientific institutions to donate usable surplus equipment and ask educators to help identify schools that would benefit most. By sharing our goals and explaining how donated resources could support students, we hope to motivate others to contribute their time, knowledge, and equipment. We also plan to use school networks and digital outreach to spread awareness, share our progress, and encourage additional schools and potential donors to join. Our goal is to show that addressing educational inequality is a shared responsibility and that even unused scientific equipment can create meaningful opportunities. Ultimately, I want Bridging the Lab Gap to become a collaborative effort in which students, educators, and scientific institutions work together to make hands-on science more accessible.
