Putting West Virginia Students on the Path to Scientific Careers

Credit: NIGMS. Two NIGMS-funded programs are teaming up to shape the future of science and technology in West Virginia (WV). One engages high school students in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEM+M); introduces them to research; and provides direct access to college through tuition waivers. In the other program, undergraduate students are paired with a researcher at their institution for a paid internship—an important step toward a career in science. The Health Sciences & Technology Academy “We liken our students to rosebuds. As they grow, you see them blossom into self-confident leaders,” says Catherine Morton, Ed.D., director of the Health Sciences & Technology Academy (HSTA) in West Virginia. This mentoring program is supported in part by an NIGMS Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA). HSTA’s goal is to increase the number of underserved students who enter and succeed in undergraduate and graduate degree programs in STEM+M fields. To accomplish this, HSTA runs summer camps and after-school clubs for high school students that focus on science, math, research, and leadership. The Summer Institute, HSTA’s series of free summer camps, is held at universities across the state. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors spend 1 week learning about community-based research, steps to design a research project, and health-related subjects like anatomy or public health. Seniors attend a 3-week camp focused on various topics, su...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Being a Scientist STEM Education SEPA Training Source Type: blogs