Positive STEM Experiences for Underrepresented and Rural 6-12th Graders: A Novel Approach to Pre-Collegiate Neuroscience using a Train-the-Trainer Model, Summer Immersion, and Sustained Mentorship

神经科学研究有可能影响健康、学习和心理健康接受和 护理，以及治疗全球人口的神经疾病。的应用和影响 神经科学的创新依赖于多视角、思维的多样性和文化意识。 具体地说，招募、留住和培训一批神经科学领域的高技能人才 为了最大限度地发挥我们的研究和教育的影响，我们势在必行。然而，这一努力受到了以下方面的影响 该领域现有的种族和民族不平衡。尽管国家作出了许多努力，但代表不足的少数族裔 (URM)参与神经科学研究的障碍。在这项拟议的工作中，我们将针对 中老年青年，因为这几年是青年身份、自我概念和 成就导向形成过程，这将在形成他们的经验方面发挥重要作用 在社区、学校、工作和生活中。这项提议的主要目标是提供有意义的、强化的 为URM 6-8年级学生探索潜在机会提供经验和支持网络 在神经科学方面。我们将通过将成功但不同的单一组织实践集成到 全州统一的纵向模式。我们的建议结合并扩展了我们团队的过去 成功(1)创建并提供新的神经科学课程，通过以下方式在全州范围内提供 明尼苏达州将以“培训培训者”的模式培养新一代神经科学教育者。 为感兴趣的青少年创建和实施身临其境的神经科学夏令营，帮助他们开始 采取步骤实现理想的成就，包括依赖支持，克服障碍，以及 重新设想他们的可能性，以及(3)制定一个为期一年的导师计划，旨在 通过代表不足的导师建立和形成长期的联系，使神经科学领域多样化 与未被充分代表的学生建立联系。我们将首次整合三种形式的接触 将体验整合到单一、有凝聚力的生态系统中，让参与者更好地了解潜在的协同效应 为学生提供多种参与模式的好处。我们认为，这些始终如一和不断加强的 经验为下一代代表不足、处境不利和/或残疾的少数群体提供了机会 农村领导人为神经科学领域的教育和研究成功提供了一个变革性的机会。

Neuroscience research has the potential to impact wellness, learning, and mental health acceptance and care, as well as the treatment of neurological disorders for global populations. The application and impact of neuroscience innovation depends on multiple perspectives, diversity of thought, and cultural awareness. Specifically, recruiting, retaining, and training a diverse pool of highly skilled individuals in neuroscience is imperative for maximizing the impact of our research and education. However, the effort is compromised by existing race and ethnicity imbalances in the field. Despite many national efforts, underrepresented minorities (URM) experience barriers to participation in neuroscience research. In this proposed work, we will target middle school aged youth, as these years are a critical time in youth’s identity, self-concept, and accomplishment orientation formation processes, which will play a significant role in shaping their experience in community, school, work, and life. The primary goal of this proposal is to provide meaningful, reinforcing experiences and a supportive network for URM 6th-8th grade students as they explore potential opportunities in neuroscience. We will do this by integrating successful yet disparate single-organization practices into a unified and longitudinal statewide model. Our proposal incorporates and expands upon our team’s past success in (1) creating and delivering a novel neuroscience curriculum to be delivered statewide through Minnesota in a “Train-the-Trainer” model that will create a new generation of neuroscience educators, (2) creating and executing an immersive neuroscience summer camp for interested youth to help them begin to take steps toward aspiration achievement that include relying on supports, navigating barriers, and reimagining what is possible for them, and (3) developing a year-long mentorship program aimed at diversifying the field of neuroscience through underrepresented mentors connecting and forming long-term bonds with underrepresented students. For the first time, we will integrate three forms of engagement experiences into a single, cohesive ecosystem for participants to better understand potential synergistic benefits of multiple modes of engagement for students. We believe that these consistent and reinforcing experiences provide the next generation of underrepresented minorities, disadvantaged and/or disabled, and rural leaders a transformative opportunity for educational and research success in neuroscience fields.