Dieuwertje DJ Dieuwertje

Dieuwertje “DJ” Kast, Ed.D., is the Director of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Education Programs for the University of Southern California’s (USC) Joint Educational Project, which includes managing the Young Scientists Program. She has provided STEM instruction to over 31,000 underserved students, 900 educators, 20 school principals, and countless community members. She holds a doctorate in education, focusing on Teacher Education in Multicultural Societies in STEM at USC. She received her master’s degree in education and biology teaching credential from the USC Rossier School of Education and she received her bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master of Science in Marine Environmental Biology in 2011 from USC. Her mission is to level the playing field for underserved students in STEM. Her education philosophy is focused on hands-on, inquiry-based and authentic STEM learning experiences. As the broader impacts coordinator for eight current NSF grants, she ensures that scientific research benefits diverse communities by translating cutting-edge findings into hands-on, accessible learning experiences for underrepresented groups.

She has coordinated the creation and publication of a STEAM Powered Career children's book series that features main characters of color and scientists of color for elementary school students. The publisher printed 180,000 free copies to distribute to low-income families in book desert areas in Los Angeles, and she spearheaded that distribution. 

She also volunteers with EE Just- a program dedicated to bringing Black youth into marine biology and the USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative where she teaches research methods to first generation high school Latinx students with expeditions to Catalina Island and research symposiums. Her doctorate research was focused on preparing elementary school teachers how to integrate science and technology into their classrooms in a culturally relevant manner. She has also partnered with the Mayor's office Women in STEM Los Angeles (WiSTEM LA) group and has hosted events & programming for them and received funding for her educational equity work from the Los Angeles Mayor's office. She has also hosted Project Scientist, a summer science camp for girls at USC, and worked to include scholarships for low-income students of color to participate in the program. For her work in educational equity and DEI in STEM, she has received the Forbes 30 under 30 in Science Award in 2016, North American Association for Environmental Education “EE 30 under 30” Award in 2016, The National Association of Geoscience Teachers – Far Western Section (NAGT-FWS) Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award (2017), International STEM Education Association Mike Neden STEM Champion Award (2017), the USC Rossier Second Century Alumni Award – an award for rising stars in their fields that support educational equity (2019), the Anitab.org Social Impact Abie Award (Women in Technology) Award Winner (2021), 

Built In’s Moxie Awards - recognizes 100 rising women in tech who are making a difference in their workplaces, communities, and the tech industry (2022), Women Impact Tech’s 2023 Women of Impact Honoree, and 40 under 40 Public Health Catalyst 2023 Award from The Boston Congress of Public Health (2023). She has published in dozens of journals on culturally relevant STEM curriculum and instructional activities. Her work makes an impactful difference by leveling the playing field in STEM for low-income students of color in the Los Angeles area. 

• Aug 2025 University Staff Club and USC Staff Assembly Monthly Staff Recognition Award winner for August 2025
• June 2025 Leader of Impact by Women Impact Tech for 2025
• Sept 2024 100under100 Exceptional Women from Just-6
• April 2024 Top 10 STEM Directors 2024 from Education Technology Insights
• Feb 2024 STEM Crew Magazine Featured STEM Trailblazer
• Nov 2023 USC Dornsife Spot Award 
• Nov 2023 Los Angeles Times Inspirational Women Forum and Leadership Award Finalist
• July 2023 40 under 40 Public Health Catalyst 2023 Award from The Boston Congress of Public Health
• April 2023 Built In’s Moxie Awards - recognizes 100 rising women in tech who are making a difference in their workplaces, communities, and the tech industry.
• Sept 2022 Women Impact Tech’s 2023 Women of Impact Honoree
• June 2022 Marquis Who’s Who 2022
• June 2022 Edthena’s Teacher Leader Impact Award
• April 2022 Honoree of the Amy King Dundon-Berchtold University Club of USC Faculty and Staff Recognition Program - creatively sustaining and supporting community during the challenges posed by the pandemic-quarantining, remote instruction, and remote work.
• Sept 2021 Anitab.org Social Impact Abie Award (Women in Technology) Award Winner
• Aug 2021 INSIGHT Into Diversity Inspiring Program in STEM Award winner
• Aug 2020 Honoree of the Amy King Dundon-Berchtold University Club of USC Faculty and Staff Recognition Program - demonstrates exemplary service to the USC Community and beyond as it relates to the advancement of USC’s diversity and inclusion values.
• Aug 2019 USC Rossier Second Century Alumni Award – Rising stars in their fields that support educational equity
• Feb 2019 eSchool News Distinguished Innovator Award
• June 2018 Discovery Science Super Hero finalist 
• April 2018 National Geographic Certified Educator 
• Dec 2017 Trojan Empeiria Scholarship ($500)
• Sept 2017 International STEM Education Association Mike Neden STEM Champion Award
• Aug 2017 Geological Society of America’s “Society’s Award for Excellence in Earth Science Teaching”
• May 2017 The National Association of Geoscience Teachers – Far Western Section (NAGT-FWS) Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award 
• Sept 2016 North American Association for Environmental Education “EE 30 under 30” Award
• Nov 2015 Forbes 30 under 30 in Science Recipient 

Selected Publications

• Kast, D. J., Stellmann, J., Floback, A., Gaffney, J., Pil, K., & Moffett, J. (2025). Full Steam Ahead: Ironing Up Science at a Title 1 Elementary School in Southern California. Current: The Journal of Marine Education, 40(3), pp. 71–80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/cjme.136  

• Kast, D.J., Pulver, C., Dines, J. and Dean, M. (2025) “Exploring Comparative Physiology and Evolution: Understanding Homologous Structures with Students. Current: The Journal of Marine Education, vol. 40, no. 2, 2025, p. 17–24”. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5334/cjme.123

• Asim, Sumreen & Kast, D.J. (2025) Diverse Characters in Children’s Books that highlight STEM Careers. The Indiana Mathematics Teacher (IMT) journal of the Indiana Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM), 1, page 3-5

• Kast, D., Argueta, J. (2025) Broadening participation for polar science through informal STEM educators. Arctic Voices. https://www.uarctic.org/about-us/shared-voices-magazine/shared-voices-2025/broadening-participation-in-polar-science-through-informal-stem-education/  

• Stellmann, J., Zambidis, A.,  MacLean, A, Kast, D. (2024), Connected Science Learning. Stem cell for elementary school students. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24758779.2024.2439370

• Kast, DJ., Stellmann, J., Campbell, K, Barakat, R. & Deck, D. (2024). Sand Slides, The Earth Scientist, Volume XLI (Issue 1), pgs. 19-25.

• Katlyne Stiles, Surbhi Bansil, Brittany Acevedo, W. Martin Kast & Dieuwertje J. Kast (2024) Medical and Cancer-STEM Education in Audiology, Gastroenterology, and Osteology/Orthopedics for Underrepresented Elementary School Students, Connected Science Learning, DOI: 10.1080/24758779.2023.2296749 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/24758779.2023.2296749

• Yanez, M., Stellmann, J., LaRowe, D., Amend, J.,  Kast, D.J. (2024) “Astrobiology: Bringing the Search for Aliens to Elementary Classrooms.” The Earth Scientist. National Earth Science Teaching Association. Volume XL, Issue 3, pages 11-19.

• Madrigal, M., & Kast, D. (2024). Breaking Stereotypes and Increasing Representation in Marine Biology by Diversifying Children’s Literature. Current: The Journal of Marine Education, X(X), pp. 1–11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/cjme.97

• Fernandez D, Kast D, Kast W M. Combating racial disparity in children’s public health education and literature. HPHR. (2023);72. https://www.doi.org/10.54111/0001/TTT2

• Kelly, K. J., Kast, D. J., Schiksnis, C. A., & Thrash, J. C. (2023). Hands-on Hypoxia: Engaging High School Educators in the science behind Marine Microbial Dynamics in Hypoxic Coastal Areas Through Field and Classroom Experiences. Current: The Journal of Marine Education, 38(1), pp. 28–41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/cjme.86

• Bansil, S., Kast, D.J., Kast, W.M., (2022). Lung cancer and other lung disease diagnostics for elementary school children through sound. Science and Children. pg 48-51

• McMahon, B., Sanchez, J., Case, E., Huerta, L., Kast, W. M., Kast, D.J. (2022). Transitioning an in-person elementary STEM after-school program to distance learning during COVID-19. Connected Science Learning. https://www.nsta.org/connected-science-learning/connected-science-learning-march-april-2022/transitioning-person

• Case, E., Kast, D.J. (2022). Empowering students of color from Los Angeles to pursue careers in space during the pandemic. The Earth Scientist, Volume XXXVIII (Issue 4), pgs. 5-9

• Kast, D. J. (2021). Authentic Marine Research Experiences for Low-Income and First Generation High School Students Used to Level the Playing Field and Decrease Attrition in STEM. Current: The Journal of Marine Education, 35(1), 16–30. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/cjme.56 

• Stellmann, J., Kast, D. (2021). Using Augmented Reality for geoscience education in low-income elementary schools. The Earth Scientist, Volume XXXVII (Issue 2), pgs. 21-26

• Barakat, R., Crittenden, A., Kast, D. (2021). Rock On! Creative Ways to introduce Elementary School Students to the Rock Cycle using Starbursts. The Earth Scientist, Volume XXXVII (Issue 2), pgs. 6-9

• Kast, D. J., Treiber, T., Figueroa, D., & Whitley, L. (2021). E.E. Just Goes Digital during COVID-19. Current: The Journal of Marine Education, 34(3), 21–37. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/cjme.59

• Barakat, R., Kast, D. (2020). Reach for the Stars: Elementary School Students make history in contacting the International Space Station. The Earth Scientist, Volume XXXVI (Issue 1), pgs. 9-14

• Kast, D., Addressing Systemic Challenges in Elementary-School Teacher Preparation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Diss. University of Southern California, 2020

• Kelly, K. J., & Kast, D. J. (2020). Planktonic Relationships! Authentic STEM Connections Through Partnership Between University of Southern California’s Marine Researchers and Los Angeles Unified Elementary School Students. Current: The Journal of Marine Education, 34(2), 12–18. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/cjme.28 

• Clarke, L., & Kast, D. J. (2020). A Case Study in Making Ocean Education Accessible for Students with Special Needs. Current: The Journal of Marine Education, 34(2), 28–35. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/cjme.29

• Kast, DJ., Barakat, R. & Deck, D. (2019). Sand Slides, The Earth Scientist, Volume XXXV (Issue 1), pgs. 6-9.

• Kast, D., Singh, A. and Kast, W. (2018). A Cancer Education Curriculum for Underserved Elementary School Children | Connected Science Learning. [online] Connected Science Learning. Available at: https://www.nsta.org/connected-science-learning/connected-science-learning-october-december-2018-0/cancer-education

• Kast, D., (2018) Curriculum Designer, A Teacher’s Handbook for the ISS-Above including Lesson plans and Activities Grade 6-8

• Waggoner, E., & Kast, D. (2018). Meet the Grays. Current: The Journal of Marine Education, 31(2), 9–12. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/cjme.2

• Kast, D. (2017) "Incorporating Deep Sea Science and Underwater Robotics in Low-Income Schools." Current: The Journal of Marine Education, vol. 31, no. 1, p. 22+. Gale Academic OneFile

• Kast, D. (2016) NMEA Educator Translates Polar Science Research After Arctic Expedition, Current: The Journal for Marine Education, vol. 30, no. 1, pgs. 2-4

• Kast, D. (2016) Teacher at Sea Program, Current: The Journal of Marine Education, vol. 30, no. 1, pgs. 31-33

• Brinkman, J., Fahey, L., Kast, D., Da Silva, D. and Kast, W.M. High and Low Risk Human Papillomaviruses: Disease Links, Biology, Immunology and Vaccine Development. Viral Oncogenesis (2006). 75-106. Research Signpost, Kerala, India

• Jan 2022- present -  Adjunct Faculty for USC Rossier Masters of Arts and Teaching (MAT) Program
• April 2021- Oct 2022 - Room to Read’s STEM Career Children’s Book Project University (USC) Lead 
• Aug 2020-July 2021 Huntington Medical Research Institute (HMRI) Curriculum Writer for URM High school students, Pasadena, CA 
• June- Dec 2018 Mattel STEM Curriculum Writer, LA, CA
• Sept- Dec 2017 International Space Station (ISS) Above Curriculum Writer for CASIS, LA, CA 
• Aug 2015-present - Director of STEM Education Programs, Joint Educational Project, USC, LA, CA