Diversity Project Continues Science Outreach to High Schools
The S.I.G.M.A. Science Mentorship Initiative, the brainchild of doctoral biology alumnus Dr. Andre Samuel, will continue its diversity efforts for the fourth year, bringing scientific inquiry to a full cohort of ninth- through 12th-graders.
Sigma—one of the strongest bonds in chemistry—lends its name to the mentorship initiative Samuel developed with the Urban Pathways Charter School. Ten high school students will come to campus from Monday, June 23, to Friday, June 27, under the auspices of the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, the Office of the Provost, and the leadership of Samuel, with help from doctoral chemistry student Bernandie Jean and biology doctoral student Christopher Fonner.
The program will see some changes, including gift card prizes for top presentations and opportunities for senior students to work in research labs while earning stipends.
“The seniors will be using their skills that week on real research projects, working under Ph.D. students in the program, to clone genes or transform genes into bacteria, things that will help real research and put their skills to work,” Samuel said.
All S.I.G.M.A. students will benefit from what may be the biggest change in the program: the switch from four consecutive Saturdays to a week-long session. The change adds a big bonus that Samuel said every scientist wants: next-day results. The impact of the results with hands-on learning is unmistakable and goes a long way toward increasing interest in the sciences.
“Turning a transparent bacteria into a glowing green bacteria, harvesting DNA from fruit, seeing the precipitate at work, these are things that they have read about and never really seen or done. They become tangible,” Samuel said. “In the process, it gives them confidence. They become familiar with the equipment and the processes. They learn what to expect in a lab.”
Cultivated in this way, some students may start thinking of science as their career paths. Samuel tells a bittersweet story about a top S.I.G.M.A. student returning to the program this year—although interested in science, the student was looking at a career in law. She attended the S.I.G.M.A. sessions, and, as a rising high school senior, landed an internship with Bayer and is considering making science her future.
“It just goes to show,” Samuel said, “the program does make an impact.”