The Fulbright Program has selected Professor Radha Jagannathan as a 2026–2027 Fulbright U.S. Scholar for India, recognizing her work in education, public policy, and community-based research. The prestigious fellowship will support Jagannathan’s collaboration with faculty at Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, as she works to expand and adapt the successful Nurture thru Nature (NtN) program for students in India. In a congratulatory letter to Dean Stuart Shapiro, the Institute of International Education noted that Fulbright Scholar Awards provide transformative opportunities for teaching, research, and long-term international collaboration.
Originally co-founded and directed by Jagannathan in New Brunswick from 2009 to 2022, the NtN program was created as a public-private partnership among Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Johnson & Johnson, and the New Brunswick Public School District. The initiative introduced elementary school students to science and nature through hands-on environmental learning, including organic gardens, butterfly habitats, and outdoor science activities. Designed as a longitudinal randomized controlled trial, the program demonstrated promising impacts on students’ cognitive and non-cognitive development, with findings published in peer-reviewed academic journals.
As part of the Fulbright award, Jagannathan will make multiple visits to Delhi between August 2026 and July 2028 to co-design, implement, and evaluate a tailored version of the NtN program alongside faculty partners in India. The effort aims to bring experiential STEM education opportunities to underserved students while building new international research and exchange partnerships. “I’m quite excited,” Jagannathan said of the opportunity to expand the reach of a program that has already impacted hundreds of students in New Brunswick and served as a model for community-engaged education.