The Innovation Impact Case Award recognizes research that has led to significant impact outside of academia and has made a meaningful difference in our communities.
Award Winners
The award and prize of $10,000 were granted to each of the following research projects:
Stephanie Carlson and Philip Zelazo
College of Education and Human Development, Developmental Social Cognitive Neuroscience (DSCN) Lab, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
“Supporting the development of executive function skills among preschool children in low-income families: A state-wide initiative in New Mexico”
Philip David Zelazo and Stephanie M. Carlson, founders of University of Minnesota startup company Reflection Sciences, Inc. (RSI), have implemented their nationally normed Minnesota Executive Function Scale (MEFS) and surrounding supports for teachers to improve students’ critical self-regulation skills. These skills are essential for learning, problem-solving, and mental health. A 2025–2026 state-wide initiative in New Mexico, utilizing RSI’s bilingual training and assessment and involving 14,494 preschool students in community-based, public school, and tribal programs, saw students' average EF scores rise from the 43rd to the 47th percentile, with expansion planned for 2026-27 to support students at a wider range of ages.
Edgar Arriaga
College of Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
"From Students to Citizen Scientists: Mapping Water Risk in Guatemala"
Edgar Arriaga and his team are helping communities in Guatemala's Lake Atitlan basin build a locally led system for monitoring water quality. Working with Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, municipal partners, and residents of San Andres Semetabaj, the project trains citizen scientists to collect field measurements, interpret results, and map pollution concerns using low-cost tools, cell phones, and GIS. Since 2025, the partnership has supported workshops, field sampling, student engagement, and early pollution mapping in the Tzala River watershed. The result is a practical model for turning environmental data into community awareness, local decision-making, and long-term stewardship.
Read more: From Students to Citizen Scientists: Mapping Water Risk in Guatemala