This interdisciplinary research course is a unique learning experience for our students to conduct an independent research project and initiate positive change in their community. Students choose their own research topic and design their projects using Stanford Design School’s Empathy Design Framework. We are highlighting some of this work in this mid-year newsletter.
In addition, we are also looking for support, guidance and resources for our projects. If you are interested in any of the projects listed in the spreadsheet below, please contact the student researchers.
Perspective Taking
These projects span across STEM, humanities, arts, and athletics. Students consider multiple perspectives while researching nuanced topics and are guided by a mentor. This is done through empathy interviews with peers, and community members.
Community Outreach and Partnerships
We aim to partner with different stakeholders within and outside of the immediate MV community to address bias and inequities. Each of our end goals revolve around educating the community about those biases by analyzing data and creating tools to address them.
Project: Data-based solutions to Cupertino's housing crisis
By Anushka De, Mentors: Hung-Wei Chien, Cupertino City Council Member & Danny Haeg, Director of Creative Collisions at The Tech, San Jose
Project: Bringing Cultural Sensitivity to School Resource Officer Training for equitable disciplinary actions in our district
By Riya Ranjan, Mentor: Mr. Ben Clausnitzer, Principal, Monta Vista High School
Project: Partnerships with Indigenous Communities for Sustainability
By Karishma Goswami, Mentor: Clara Fortes Brandão, Museo Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, National Geographic Grantee
...for the beauty of its trees, game, and fish. No. They have no more friendship for the forest than they do for the beings who live in it. What they really want is to clear it all to feed their cattle and to tear everything they can out of its soil.” - Davi Kopenawa
Student Wellness and Mental Health
Although each project is distinct, our common goal is to extend resources that promote self-empowerment, increase awareness and destigmatize mental health struggles. Our projects explore sexual assault, media portrayals of teen relationships and sex, and gender disparities in support for individuals with ADHD and address them using unique forms of therapy and student wellness spaces.
Project: Promotion of Student Mental Wellness through new student-based mental wellness school resources
By Nyssa Chadha, Mentors: Ms. Doreen Bonde, Library Media Teacher & Ms. Leila Lurie, School-based Therapist and Curriculum Lead
Student wellness and mental health are top priority for student researchers. Our goal is to decrease stigma with regards to mental health. We wish to increase awareness and use of the existing resources, and provide new resources such as writing therapy as a way to deal with trauma.
Project: Student Wellness Center Project: Student researchers will be working with the mentors to create a wellness center for our student body
By Atmaja Patil, Mentors: Ms. Doreen Bonde, Library Media Teacher & Ms. Leila Lurie, School Based Therapist and Curriculum Lead
Project: Effective Therapies for Trauma Victims
By Nethra Narasimhan, Mentor: Ms. Vennessa Nava, English Teacher & Ms. Doreen Bonde, Library Media Teacher
Inclusive Student Body
Our projects are targeted around bringing inclusivity within the Monta Vista student body. From increasing Asian American representation to empowering English learners, with our projects, we hope to create an inclusive environment where every individual has an equally powerful and respected voice. We aim to target these inequities at both a school and district-wide level, hoping to enforce our changes for future students.
Project: Increase Asian American representation at Monta Vista to create a more informed and representative student body
By Mary Choy and Shreya Mantripragada, Mentors: Ms. Bonnie Belshe, AP US History Teacher
Teen Health and Nutrition
Student researchers are exploring the differences in nutrition and habits in young adults with the goal to promote student health through nutrition education and action. The projects focus on addressing nutritional inequities spurred by socioeconomic status, food allergies, and more. The action taken will work to build healthier and more inclusive consumption habits at the community level.
Project: Cafeteria Meals for Teens with Allergies
By Vy Pham, Mentor: Mr. Edgar Rodriguez, Cafeteria Manager
Project: Socioeconomic Disparities in Teen Nutrition
By June Wang, Mentor: Ms. Michelle Azurin, Diversity Outreach Coordinator, UC Berkeley School of Public Health
Project: Socio-economic Disparities and Nutritional Awareness
By Pooja Jakkampudi, Sanya Garg Mentor: Ms. Jenna Smith, Physiology Teacher
Inequities
Our projects aim to tackle the microcosmic social and educational inequities at our high school and beyond. By incorporating various lenses, disciplines and technologies, student researchers intend to address systemic inequalities that affect marginalized groups and minorities, evening the playing field for a stronger community.
Project: How might we increase high school foreign language acquisition and retention rates at Monta Vista?
By Lavi Sundar, Mentor: Madame Sarah Finck, French Teacher
Project: Overcoming language barriers to access knowledge
By Keshav Balaji, Mentor: Ms. Sydney Fernandez, Assistant Principal
Project: Identifying CO2 level disparities in learning spaces
By Leela Srinivas and Arya Balasubramaniam, Mentor: Professor Sekhar Kondepudi, Associate Professor at National University of Singapore
Impact of Social Media on the Community
With the growing use of social media in our day to day lives, the content portrayed on these platforms filter the spread of information as well as the kind of content to cater towards a certain audience. Consequently, this wrongful filtration negatively affects community members by causing polarization and mental health issues.
Project: How might we reduce the effects of negative social media content on teens with body dysmorphia?
By Arushi Tyagi and Hinako Takamatsu, Mentors: Mr. Richard Prinz, School Based Therapist
