Human Science

Empowering Individuals and Families

Human Sciences focuses on the holistic well-being and empowerment of individuals and families. As a comprehensive group, our Human Sciences programs impact many areas of functioning within society. Family functioning supports society at large. Likewise, healthy individuals create a more productive society.

Functional Product Development of Footwear to Improve Healthcare Needs

Family Engagement, Play-Based Learning, Outdoor Activity

Health Equity in Food Systems

More Beans on the Table

Functional Product Development of Footwear to Improve Healthcare Needs
Dr. LaPorchia Davis
Situation: Approximately 34.2 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, and another 88 million are prediabetic. The development of the footwear design concept began by determining the healthy preventive measures would make a sneaker more comfortable and fashionable for communities who have prediabetes, Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
Activity: (a). Prototype designs were produced from customer discovery. (b) The design addresses the issue of consistent foot moisture and humidity that can easily lead
to blister formation, resulting sores, and infections - which are slow to heal in diabetic patients. A limited test was done to determine the relative humidity of the footwear design compared to diabetic footwear currently available in the market. (c). This was done to determine if the breathability and moisture wicking capabilities of the footwear design were significant.
Impact: A substantive improvement in sneaker design for diabetics by enhancing diabetic footwear to minimize foot sores/blisters, thereby promoting physical activity among patients. Annually, there are 1.5 million new cases of diabetes in the U.S. alone. Diabetics suffer from neuropathy, a loss of feeling/sensation, especially in the feet. Not sensing skin sores and blisters, can lead to untreated infections, which are slower to heal in diabetics - leading to toe, foot and limb amputations. About 60 percent of all non-traumatic lower-limb amputations among people, aged 20 years or older, occur in people with diagnosed diabetes.

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Family Engagement, Play-Based Learning, Outdoor Activity
Dr. Margaret Machara
Situation: Family relationships are foundational for both individual growth and societal progress. Improved relationships increases well-being for all members of the family. Each stage of the lifecycle has its own challenges and normative stressors. Likewise, some issues cross multiple age groups to impact all society.
Activity: Activities engage caregivers with children in play-based activities that promote learning and healthy relationships. Over five years, over 1,000 preschoolers and educators across college majors came to campus to experience learning activities for the Week of the Young Child. Booklets were sent home with suggestions to extend learning in family activities. In 2022, Mud Day brought families to campus with their preschoolers so they could experience activities directly in outdoor play. Encouraging family engagement requires an understanding of circumstances that families face. In response to the COVID pandemic, 21 factsheets were developed to help families face new challenges. Additional factsheets address more normative and isolated issues that families experience. New curriculum supports families across the lifespan. Participants gain an understanding of issues within each age group. Relationship building activities that address physical, cognitive, and social-emotional domains of development are included that can be used with the new curriculum or with other programs extension agents offer.
Impact: The community events were enjoyable to the college students and gave them practicum experience with young children. Educators also enjoyed the events, one saying it was their favorite fieldtrip each year. Extension agents have expressed appreciation for the COVID factsheets series and interest in using the curriculum.

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Health Equity in Food Systems
Dr. Veronica Oates
Situation:1) Microgreens contain many beneficial nutrients to our health but have a shorter production cycle. 2) The influence of conflicting messages on social media, talk radio, and television is affecting vaccination rates in rural and historically underserved communities, 3) Many students and extension agents do not know how to facilitate changes in policy, systems, and environments that affect nutrition and health.
Activity: 1) Nutrient content of microgreens are grown in different media are determined and course curricula on farm-to-table supply chain networks is developed. The purpose is to engineer next generation smart technology to improve farm-to-table food management systems of microgreen crops. 2) Engaging in outreach education to promote higher trust in vaccines and knowledge of the role of vaccinations in health and disease prevention. Develop culturally relevant vaccination educational activities and materials using information collected from focus group interviews and surveys of African Americans; 3) The Food Justice Leadership Academy will train future leaders in food justice and piloting it at three 1890 institutions, Alabama A & M, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and Tennessee State University.
Impacts: 1) Interdisciplinary training of underrepresented students in data analytics, nutritional sciences, and systems management to improve their workforce-ready skills. Results inform stakeholders on nutrient composition, consumer preferences, and health benefits of broccoli microgreens. 2) Results will inform stakeholders. Students are learning about community-based research methods; 3) Increasing students’ knowledge, skills, and awareness of issues related to food security, social capital, food and nutrition access, community balance, civic engagement, and food sustainability.

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More Beans on the Table
Ms. Sharon Suggs
Situation: This project focuses on development of a protein rich crop, Mung Beans, by an 1890 Historically Black Land Grant University which is committed to addressing racial and ethnic health disparities found in the Southeastern United States. Middle Tennessee will be introduced to an economical source of healthy protein, mung bean recipes, and an alternative crop for stakeholders useful to Southeast region. The project addresses the priority area of Health - Agriculture Nexus and Urban Food Systems with funding from FFAR. Collaborative funds from Bush Beans will assist with lab setup, bean marketing and consumer outreach. TSU alum partners of Slim and Husky’s, plus local-state government assist the project. Tennessee House Representative for the 58th District, Dr. Harold Love, Jr is a key supporter on bridging the food insecurity gap in the state, and many others are supporters.
Activities: Mung Beans are a good choice to introduce to agriculture because they are small seeds and can grow in small plots. They adapt to variations of the soil, and use low amounts of water and fertilizer. In addition, they provide alternative economic opportunities for farmers, and healthy protein staple for food industry or consumers. Given the health benefits, a major project component is to increase bean consumption by African American, Latinx, and low-income families in areas of high disease burden.
Impact: The project will address creating Next Generation crops for American agriculture. The over-reliance on few crops has led to highly processed foods of questionable nutritional value. We meet part of this challenge by developing mung beans as a new crop for TN agriculture that is low allergen, good flavored and balanced in plant proteins. It is useful as whole grain, sprouts or flours for industry or direct consumption. TSU will introduce this as a vital food in purchases and consumption in our region.

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