STEAM Lab To Explore Music’s Impact On Health, Academic Development

The Texas State Upward Bound Program provides low income and first generation high school students with academic, cultural and personal support for high school graduation, postsecondary enrollment and lifelong success.

SAN MARCOS – Texas State University has received a U.S. Department of Education grant to incorporate traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields of study with the arts to create a hybrid STEAM education and research lab to explore how engaging with music facilitates health development, reduces depression and anxiety, and increases academic development.

Raphael Travis Jr., bachelor of social work program director and associate professor in the School of Social Work, along with Ray Cordero, director of Upward Bound Programs in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, will oversee the STEAM lab.

The Texas State Upward Bound Program provides low income and first generation high school students with academic, cultural and personal support for high school graduation, postsecondary enrollment and lifelong success.

The $80,000 education and research grant will support a cohort of “Academic Saturdays” developed by the School of Social Work and Upward Bound.

High School students will participate in eight immersive experiences to help them discover the latest in what research has uncovered in science, technology, engineering and math fields.

Focusing on the in-depth themes of each workshop, students will then have access to create and discover via music and music technology.

The eight workshops are designed to promote positive mental health and will each have subthemes focused on music and art, plus science, technology, engineering and math. Each workshop will be conducted twice, with the second workshop featuring more advanced objectives.