Graduate Student Eleanor Carr Brings Agricultural Science to Life at Record-Breaking MSU Museum Event
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EmailAt the largest SciCurious event to date, graduate student Eleanor Carr (Thompson Lab; PhD Candidate in Genetics & Genome Sciences) is helping connect the community with the science behind everyday life.
At the recent SciCurious event at MSU Museum (formerly Darwin Day), Eleanor Carr, Ally Schumacher, and Sophia Liberto share their science learning expertise to a record-breaking crowd.
Passionate about education and outreach, Carr designed a hands-on activity introducing participants to maize genetics research, bringing agricultural science literally to the dinner table, with the goal of helping people recognize that science is everywhere: from grocery store shelves to backyard gardens to the fields of waving grain.
“So much of ag science is all around us,” Carr explained. “I hope this kind of activity shows the public—and especially children—that scientists are people just like them, and that anyone can pursue scientific discovery.”
Carr’s dedication to teaching is deeply rooted. Inspired by a middle school science teacher who made learning fun, she now integrates pedagogy into her doctoral training. As a teaching assistant at Michigan State University, she emphasizes hands-on learning and student-driven inquiry.
“Lab is where classroom concepts become real,” she said. “When students lead their own investigations, they connect abstract ideas to real-life applications, and that’s where discovery begins.”
Carr also highlights the broader impact of educators, noting their resilience and influence: “By reaching teachers, you’re reaching not only our community’s present, but also its future.”
Through outreach and teaching, Carr is helping cultivate curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists, one hands-on experience at a time.
