Cancer Center program connects scientists to the community
Outreach program brings scientists to local cafes to meet with people interested in research, breaking down barriers to cancer research
Cancer Center Director Joann Sweasy, PhD, (right) speaks to the public at Rollies Mexican Patio in Tucson at the first of the center’s scientific cafes.
The boisterous, vibrant Rollies Mexican Patio in Tucson may seem like an unlikely place for a scientific talk, but for the University of Arizona Cancer Center’s outreach team it was the perfect venue to introduce their inaugural scientific café, a place where center researchers and the community can discuss cancer research in a relaxed setting.
The center’s Community Outreach and Engagement office developed the scientific cafés in collaboration with the center’s Research Outreach for Southern Arizona. The team created ROSA to facilitate equitable, collaborative, sustainable and relevant relationships between scientists and the communities they serve.
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(From left) Juan Contreras II, research program administrator, Namoonga M. Mantina, community outreach and engagement manager, and Monica Yellowhair, PhD, assistant director collaborate on the Cancer Center’s scientific cafes in Tucson.
The team includes Juan Contreras II, research program administrator, Namoonga M. Mantina, community outreach and engagement manager, and Monica Yellowhair, PhD, assistant director collaborate on the Cancer Center’s scientific cafes in Tucson.
“Accessibility, inclusivity and overall relevancy to the community - that’s where culture plays a huge role in ROSA’s focus,” said Namoonga M. Mantina, COE community outreach manager. “The Cancer Center is the only comprehensive cancer center headquartered in Arizona. The work that happens here needs to be relevant specifically to the communities of Arizona and our catchment area of Southern Arizona.”
COE started their ROSA scientific cafés about a year ago, drawing about 25 community members to the first event. Moving the events to different locations throughout Southern Arizona allows the ROSA team to reach a different audience with each café. It also gives participants an opportunity to connect with Cancer Center scientists to hear about their work, ask questions and provide feedback on how to make research studies and material relevant to community needs.
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