New Science Program Aimed at Underrepresented High School Students
Concordia University and Northwestern College are collaborating on a new program to expose underrepresented populations of high school students in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area to applied scientific research and careers in science. Recent gifts of $30,000 from Medtronic and $12,500 from the Boston Scientific Foundation helped fund the Science Research Institute (SRI). The Institute is a year-long program in which college students majoring in science-related fields mentor high school students to help them develop their knowledge and skills in scientific study and research.
In July 2007, mentors and high school students participated in a four-week pilot program led by faculty members, Dr. Shellie Kieke from Concordia and Dr. Joanna Klein from Northwestern. Nine high school students (from five local schools and diverse ethnic/cultural backgrounds) participated, along with science teacher Craig Karlen from Central High school and five undergraduate student mentors from Concordia and Northwestern. The program focused on providing “hands-on” laboratory experience related to two different cutting-edge projects currently underway at Concordia and Northwestern. The students also learned about careers in science by visiting the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant in St. Paul and the clinical lab at Fairview Southdale Hospital.
Kieke said the pilot was a great success. “It was really exciting to see the high school students’ increased enthusiasm for learning about science, along with the mentoring relationships and friendships that formed by the end of the summer program,” she said. “Everyday was a learning ‘high’ at SRI,” said high school participant Omar Usman.
Mentor Tim Utech also enjoyed working in the labs and learning new techniques. “The research projects were very fun and I learned things that I can use in my future classes,” he said.
Mentor/student pairs will continue meeting throughout this academic year to ensure students get extra support and guidance when applying for college, job shadowing and research presentations at local high schools.
Popularity: 12% [?]
