ROCHESTER, N.Y. — ​The University of Rochester has been awarded a $1.5 million grant that will allow science teachers in public schools to teach how the pandemic has impacted People of Color.

The grant money will give teachers the opportunity to teach a new unit called “COVID Connects Us.” The U of R started the curriculum last year as a pilot program in six area school districts.

Students will learn the importance of equity in a science setting and how it has impacted people during the pandemic.

"We engage kids in doing science to learn science,” April Luehmann, associate professor at UR Warner School of Education, said. “We position them to be advocates for their communities and to use science to help keep their circles safe."

"Personally, I'm working on really utilizing student voices to drive what we do and what we learn,” Breanna Eng, chemistry teacher at School of the Arts, added. “This was just a natural way to bring in student voices because everybody has their own experience and perspective with the pandemic."

The project will run for three years in Rochester and in other cities around the country.