Students and Teachers As Research Scientists
Description
Students and Teachers As Research Scientists (STARS) is a program funded partially through Pfizer, Inc.; LMI Aerospace/D3 Technologies; Office of the Chancellor of UM-St. Louis; Saint Louis University; Washington University; Green Foundation; and Solae Company. It introduces both rising high school juniors and seniors and teachers to the various aspects of the scientific enterprise as practiced by successful scientists in academic, private, and governmental research institutions.
Applicants are limited to rising junior or senior high school students residing in the Greater St. Louis or Metro East area.
High potential, secondary school students and science teachers have the opportunity to participate in research projects in anthropology, astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth science, engineering, mathematics, physics, or psychology at one of the collaborating research institutions: Saint Louis University, Washington University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, or Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. During this six-week summer program, students and teachers do research within a community of investigators under the supervision of a practicing research mentor. (You may access a mentor selection form if you have Adobe Reader.) Through student-mentor partnerships, student participants apply various problem-solving strategies to independent research projects, write a 15-20 page technical report, and orally present their results in a seminar format. Teachers prepare a detailed lesson and accompanying teacher guide based on the learning cycle instructional strategy relating to the use of the laboratory information from their research experience.
Formal instruction is provided in oral and written communication skills, basic statistical analysis, and, for teachers, the process of developing learning cycle-based lessons and their presentation in the classroom. Ten lectures will be presented by nationally-known scientists. Career confabs in the form of discussion with practitioners are used to introduce students to a variety of career opportunities.
Academic year follow-up meetings at UM-St. Louis and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center provide an opportunity for teachers and students to continue their association with nationally and internationally-known scientists.
STARS is a six-week program that begins the second week of June. You may access the 2009 STARS Schedule of Activities for a draft copy of the activities.
There is a $60 non-refundable, application fee and $1,850 tuition for all student participants. Checks must be made payable to the University of Missouri-St. Louis. A limited number of partial scholarships are available.For more information contact:
Dr. Kenneth R. Mares, Director
University of Missouri-St. Louis
One University Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63121-4400
Tel: (314) 516-6226
Fax: (314) 516-6233
E-mail: maresk@umsl.edu
Dr. Charles R. Granger, Co-Director
University of Missouri-St. Louis
One University Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63121-4400
Tel: (314) 516-6226
Fax: (314) 516-6233
E-mail: granger@umsl.edu