Engineer’s nonprofit helps kids realize their STEM potential

Nathan Harris believes every child can develop a love for STEM if they’re given the right opportunities. Now, he’s making it his life’s work to help more underrepresented kids excel in STEM.  

The Ohio State University engineering education PhD candidate recently started a nonprofit called See Brilliance, which provides youth with educational opportunities rooted in Black and Latinx cultures that "equips them to discover their innate brilliance."

“We want to help youth see the brilliance in themselves,” said Harris, who combines his passions for STEM education and spirituality to uplift children and their communities while preparing them for their future academic or professional journeys.

A core service of See Brilliance is its emphasis on parental involvement in a child's STEM learning. Harris, a 2019 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, uses findings from his dissertation research which focused on how Black parents can promote culturally relevant STEM experiences in the home. Everyday activities such as listening to music, watching a movie, cooking, running or riding a bike are all ways families can spark STEM conversations at home.

“It really starts with the premise that parents are their children's first teacher,” he said. “So it’s about how we can introduce STEM early on in a child's life so that they are exposed, aware and they have access to it so that they can grow to appreciate the full strength and power they have when they understand STEM.”

He said one of the easiest ways to incorporate STEM into family life is by listening to music.

“Go to a live concert together. Talk and ask questions about what is it that they're observing. For example, when the drummer hits this cymbol, it seems as if the sound rings through the air. When the singer gets too loud in the mic, it creates feedback. Afterwards go and talk to the sound engineer and ask more questions.”

Harris officially launched See Brilliance in November 2021 after some coaxing from his mother, but it wasn’t until he was preparing for a TEDx presentation that he realized her influence dated back much earlier than that.

“In my room growing up, I was completely surrounded by STEM. From the glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling and the telescope by my window, to my terrariums and all my math books,” he recalled. “It’s about early exposure and allowing youth to see the big picture as to what they can do when it comes to STEM and never having that feeling of, ‘I hate STEM’ because it's hard or I don't belong or no one looks like me or we're not successful in it. It's about getting rid of that deficit language and actions that further deter underrepresented youth from being in STEM”.

Harris said current systems in place do not support the growth and matriculation of Black and Latinx students in academia, especially related to STEM. Oftentimes research literature and studies will focus on making institutional policy changes at the collegiate level, which he believes is too late to help students.

“If someone is feeling discouraged or doesn’t have a place of belonging in learning STEM in their youth, they're for sure not going to be thinking about it when they get to college.”

Along with personal consultative work, See Brilliance offers college and career coaching, workshops and public speaking engagements. Harris also recently launched a podcast and merchandise line to help increase exposure of his mission. Upon completing his PhD in May of 2022, he aims to provide consulting for school systems seeking to implement STEM courses catered to their institution and community.

Harris maintains that STEM advocacy isn’t just limited to those in the profession—it’s for anyone who can reach young people.

“It’s all about connecting with youth and their families and building excitement,” he said. “Research shows that exposure and people being able to express and share their excitement is how you start to grow your advocacy and reach. So advocate by doing something STEM-related, bringing other people alongside you and repeat.”

To learn more about See Brilliance, including ways to support, volunteer, or collaborate, visit seebrilliance.org.

by Meggie Biss, College of Engineering Communications | biss.11@osu.edu