About

Creating access to science for the incarcerated

INSPIRE, the Initiative to bring Science Programs to the Incarcerated, builds connections with scientists, the corrections community, and incarcerated persons in Utah through science lectures, workshops, and conservation projects.

INSPIRE was established in 2014 by Dr. Nalini Nadkarni, growing from the existing Sustainability in Prisons Program, co-founded in 2003 by Nadkarni at Evergreen State College through the Washington State Department of Corrections.

INSPIRE is based in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Utah, and collaborates with the Salt Lake County Jail. We provide monthly science lectures, conservation projects in which incarcerated students participate as partners, and nature imagery to those in secured housing.

Funding to provide science in prisons and other facilities comes from the National Science Foundation (DEB-1141833 and DRL-1204448), private donations, and in-kind support from program partners.