Research Symposium

BIO

Hi! My name is Sohaila Askar. I am a sophomore majoring in biological sciences on a pre-dental track. I have a passion for healthcare, particularly dentistry, and aspire to make a positive impact by combining my love for biology and continuous learning. I enjoy exploring new knowledge and expanding my understanding of the field. In addition to my academic pursuits, I work as a desk assistant (DA) for FSU Housing and volunteer at the Alzheimer’s Project, where I am dedicated to developing a strong foundation in patient-centered care.

Mutant Maize in the Metaverse

Abstract

The Maize-10-Maze project is a public education outreach event at FSU in Tallahassee, FL, as part of our outreach educational project for more than 20 years. The goal of the outreach is to produce a fun and educational self-guided public field tour of the maize genome. The goal of this project is to produce a virtual version of the Maize-10 maze for distribution online. We started by exploring different online platforms that would be compatible with posting images and movies from past events. We selected 3 platforms to enhance visibility and for user-guided exploration, such as Instagram (@maize10maze) and GlideApp. Our criteria for platforms were based on user accessibility, cost, and ease of administration. The online resources (images, placards, links to more info) are intended for free use in any educational setting from middle school through college level. The final product, which we call the maize10maize online museum, is fascinating and beautiful on its own, while also illustrating the historic
importance of maize mutants for advancing plant biology research.

Keywords: Science communication, Genetic mutations, Maize-10-Maze