STEMLA fellows line up for a picture in their new STEMLA sweatshirts at the conclusion of the 2026 summer immersion program.

Summer 2026

Soil: Science, Culture, and Politics


The 2026 STEMLA Summer Program took place between July 5 and August 1, 2026. Our 2026 them was Soil: Science, Culture, and Politics. We were joined by Selby Hearth (Geology), for her third STEMLA summer, and Alex Alston (English) for our soil course cluster. Dalena Vien (Math) taught our Quantitative Foundations in STEM course. 

Beyond courses, we were joined by Dr. Marilyn Howarth, MD, the Director of Community Outreach and Engagement at the Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicity at the University of Pennsylvania for our STEMLA Summer Lecture. Dr. Howarth's lecture "Legacy Urban Soil Contamination Through a Health Lens," detailed the history of soil, air, and water contamination in and around Philadelphia. She showed how activists, community groups, and policy experts have worked tirelessly to address contamination and support remediation efforts. 

Fellows also attended the Franklin Institute, learned to navigate SEPTA, attended the Philadelphia area Send Off Party hosted by the Strongs P'29, and roasted s'mores. 
 

 

2026 Courses: 

The Ground Under Your Feet: Geology and Soil taught by Selby Hearth

What the Soil Remembers: An Interdisciplinary Approach to (In)Organic Matter & Ecological Crises taught by Alex Alston

Quantitative Reasoning in STEM taught by Dalena Vien

 

Eve and Mae take soil samples on campus
STEMLA Fellows examined samples in the lab
Iris Alexandra examines soil samples in the The Ground Under Your Feet: Geology and Soil course 1 / 9
STEMLA Fellows wait for SEPTA on their way to the Franklin Institute during STEMLA summer 2026 program
STEMLA Fellows learn to navigate SEPTA on their way to the Franklin Institute 2 / 9
STEMLA Fellows enter the Franklin Institute during the Summer 2026 program
STEMLA Fellows enter the Franklin Institute during their first weekend of the Summer 2026 Immersion program 3 / 9
STEMLA Fellows at Franklin Institute
Pasithea and Layla at the Franklin Institute 4 / 9
STEMLA Fellows visit Athena
STEMLA Fellows visit Athena during a class break 5 / 9
STEMLA fellows fill pots of soil in class
Alexis, Pasithea, and Logan fill pots of soil for an experiment 6 / 9
STEMLA fellows roast s'mores
Fellows roast s'mores 7 / 9
STEMLA Fellows pose in their new STEMLA sweatshirts
Our annual end of summer group photo 8 / 9
Fellows take selfie during departures from STEMLA summer program
Our annual departure selfie 9 / 9