Студентка из Сент-Луиса запустила проект по упрощению сложной медицинской информации для общественности

St. Louis is a nationally recognized powerhouse for medical research, driven by world-class institutions such as Washington University in St. Louis and Saint Louis University. Yet, for many teens and community members, the groundbreaking discoveries happening right in our backyard can feel locked behind dense academic jargon. Mia Schactman wanted to change that. The senior at John Burroughs School recognized the gap between complex science and public understanding and drew on her hands-on research experience with CRISPR at WashU to co-found Under the Microscope. The student-run digital publication is designed to translate complex concepts into takeaways that anyone can understand. Discover fun things to do with the family Subscribe to the St. Louis Family newsletter for family-friendly things to do and news for local parents, sent every Monday. We will never send spam or annoying emails. Unsubscribe anytime. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. “Science only makes a difference if people can understand it and use it,” Schactman says. “That made me want to bridge that gap.” Under the Microscope is a free, student-led biomedical newsletter that covers medicine, neuroscience, public health, and health equity. As editor-in-chief, Schactman says the publication grew out of a persistent question among her team of student volunteers: How can young people make sense of science in an age of misinformation and rapid discovery? It’s a question that’s grown increasingly urgent. Between the rise of artificial intelligence, the ubiquity of social media, and a steady erosion of public trust in health care, misleading information can spread faster than ever. Unlike misinformation about some other topics, however, medical misinformation carries real-world stakes, with misunderstandings potentially affecting the health and safety of the community. One prominent example Schactman and her staff have tackled is the claim that Tylenol use during pregnancy is linked to autism, despite the research that found no evidence that acetaminophen use during pregnancy increases the risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability. “Obviously, there’s a lot of different viewpoints in the media right now; scientifically it can be hard to narrow in on the truth,” she says. “We’ve just tried to put the facts out there.” Starting the club began much like any other student organization at school, but its foundation was rooted in advanced scientific inquiry. Inspired by her biomedical research experience at WashU, Schactman created a platform to bring that same analytical mindset to student-led science communication. Any John Burroughs School student can submit a topic for consideration. Schactman and her team hold regular pitch meetings to discuss topics worth covering, conduct research, and work together to edit pieces before they go live on Substack. The goal is to take lengthy research reports and turn them into more easily digestible stories for readers. “Length is a big aspect of that,” Schactman says. “Scientific research is very in-depth, so we try to balance having a lot of information with something that doesn’t take as long to read. People in my community want to know all this stuff; they may just not have as much time. Keeping articles shorter has helped people.” Looking ahead, Schactman is already thinking about how to keep the publication going after she graduates. Formal applications will open next year to select and train a new editor-in-chief, and she says Under the Microscope has successfully engaged younger students to step into active roles as writers and editors. “This is such an important thing right now, and I appreciate everyone who’s made this a possibility,” Schactman says.