Impact of Micro-Investments in School Children with Felipe Barrera-Osorio

In this episode of Quantum Potential, Felipe Barrera-Osorio joins Provost C. Cybele Raver to discuss his groundbreaking research—comparing the impact of need-based versus merit-based micro-scholarship programs in rural, low-income communities in Cambodia, Colombia and Mexico. He explains how these programs were so successful that national governments around the world expanded investments in education.Associate Professor of Public Policy, Education and Economics at Vanderbilt's Peabody College of education and human development Barrera-Osorio is also a visiting researcher at the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at MIT.The Quantum Potential podcast is produced by Vanderbilt University. The leadership team includes Metanoya Z. Webb, director of content and editorial strategy for this episode, and Sydney Jones-Wright, director of academic affairs communications. Patrick Sams is the senior social media specialist, and Maisie Wilson is the senior creative project manager. Mike Todd is the university visual media manager.Special thanks to Jad Abumrad, Vanderbilt University Distinguished Research Professor of Communication of Science and Technology and the executive producer of the Quantum Potential podcast and video series. We also want to thank Major Jackson, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English, for lending his voice to the end credits for this episode.Copyright 2025, Vanderbilt University.The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Vanderbilt University.Follow Vanderbilt on Social Media