AU-DC Impact Partnering for Discovery, Impact, and the Greater Good
AU is proud to be an active part of the DC community. The university's pioneering research efforts in education, healthcare, the environment, policy and many other areas impact lives, improve resources for the people of DC, and help bring about change for the greater good.
Inside AU's Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities Lab
Videos in this Playlist
Videos in this playlist
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Education
Leading the Future of STEM & Space Study in DC
For nearly three decades, AU has proudly served as the home of the DC Space Grant, connecting the District’s students, teachers, and community to NASA’s mission. Since 1997, this extraordinary initiative has expanded opportunities in STEM education, funded more than 100 undergraduate research projects each year, and provided DC high school students with pathways to earn college credit in science and technology fields. The program has also empowered more than 40 teachers from all eight DC wards with advanced training and access to real NASA data, enriching classrooms across the city and inspiring thousands of young learners.
Five Years of Reading Partnerships with DC Public Schools
For the past five years, AU’s Institute for Innovation in Education in the School of Education has partnered with DC Public Schools to strengthen teacher and leader knowledge in culturally and linguistically affirming reading instruction—helping to improve student reading achievement across the District. This collaborative effort has built lasting relationships with elementary school principals, instructional superintendents, ELA and SLA coaches and hundreds of teachers. Together, AU and DCPS are preparing educators with the skills and strategies to ensure every student has the opportunity to become a confident reader.
Health
Improving Emergency Care in D.C.
Ryan Moore, Associate Professor of Government at American University and Senior Social Scientist at The Lab @ DC, partnered with the District’s emergency services to address the overuse of ambulances for non-emergency situations. His research revealed that nearly one in four of D.C.’s 911 medical calls could be treated in clinics rather than emergency rooms. In response, the District launched Right Care, Right Now, a 911 nurse triage program that connects non-emergency callers with a nurse at the call center. The nurse can provide immediate medical advice and arrange transportation to a clinic or urgent care facility, reducing ambulance wait times and alleviating overcrowding in emergency rooms. The program led to significant improvements in the first 24 hours after a 911 call: 41% decrease in ambulance dispatches; 28% reduction in ambulance transports; For Medicaid callers, ER visits dropped from 29.5% to 25.1%, while primary care visits rose from 2.5% to 8.2%
From Family Stories to Health Action
Through De Madres a Hijas, Latina mothers and daughters in Washington, D.C. began sharing family health histories that had often gone unspoken. Led by American University’s Dr. Maria De Jesus in partnership with Nueva Vida and community health leaders, the program empowered families to discuss hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, document health histories, access genetic testing, and take proactive steps for prevention. The impact of the program was immediate: participants scheduled exams, pursued genetic testing, and initiated conversations with relatives locally and abroad. By combining research with culturally tailored community engagement, De Madres a Hijas built a foundation for a healthier future for Latina families across the District.
Environment
Research Sheds Light on Microplastic Pollution in the Anacostia River
American University researchers uncovered the hidden threat of microplastics in Washington, D.C.’s waterways. By studying Nash Run, a tributary of the Anacostia River, they found measurable levels of microplastics that ranged from 24 to 127 particles per liter- in both water and sediment throughout the year. The most common type detected was high-density polyethylene (HDPE), the same plastic found in everyday products like milk jugs and detergent bottles. These findings established one of the first baselines of microplastic pollution in the region, providing critical data to guide local environmental policy and action on single-use plastics. Beyond the science, AU students were directly involved in every stage of the research, gaining hands-on experience while helping to inform solutions that protect both the environment and the D.C. community.
What D.C.’s Trees Teach Us About Climate Resilience
With cubesat imagery, research by Prof. Michael Alonzo, assistant professor of environmental science in American University’s College of Arts and Sciences, raised important questions about the role of heat in the early onset of urban forest growing seasons. By tracking more than 10,000 trees across Washington, D.C., the study revealed that a tree’s species and location influenced its growing season more than urban heat alone. These findings provided D.C. with one of its first fine-scale baselines for understanding how its urban forest is adapting to warming and seasonal shifts. The results can help city planners and community groups make informed choices about which species to plant and where, strengthening the resilience of D.C.’s tree canopy against climate change.