Integrating STEM career exploration into busy introductory biology courses through a student-driven podcast project

Introductory biology courses at 2- and 4-year colleges attract students from diverse disciplines, fulfilling both science prerequisites and general education requirements. Therefore, these introductory classes provide an ideal opportunity to ignite interest in science and introduce students to STEM professions, which will likely expand with artificial intelligence (AI). Unfortunately, densely packed curricula offer no room for career exploration. Science majors often struggle to connect class concepts to their long-term goals, while those with no prior background feel overwhelmed catching up with more experienced classmates. This disconnect can reduce students' emotional engagement with the course, increase dependence on AI tools, and potentially contribute to course withdrawal. To address these challenges, we developed a student-driven, semester-long podcast project that integrates career exploration into the curriculum with minimal impact on class time and instructor workload. Grounded in educational psychology, this assignment builds personal connection with the course over time and enhances motivation and interest in the field while fostering a sense of community, difficult to achieve in classes with mixed background knowledge. Administering surveys across multiple semesters revealed the high efficacy of this strategy. Eighty-four percent of the students were inspired to explore careers in biology, and 84% expanded their interest in the field. Furthermore, 87% felt motivated by their classmates' stories, and nearly 90% noted an improved sense of connection with peers.