Knight Scholars Program - Building STEM Interest and Capacity for Cancer Research Careers among Underrepresented and Rural High School Students

项目总结 最近的趋势突显出，美国目前和正在发展的科学劳动力可能不是 没有充分的准备，也没有反映出学生需要的多样性，以应对日益复杂和交叉的 生物医学研究的学科性质。在正规教育环境之外的科学经历 已被证明支持科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)的发展轨迹 学生对科学的兴趣，培养学生对自己能力的信念，并通过使科学具有吸引力和 不同的学习者都可以访问。然而，代表人数不足的人往往很难获得这样的节目 少数民族(URM)学生，包括那些因种族/族裔或居住在低收入农村地区而处于不利地位的学生 或者边疆地区。因此，拟议的骑士学者计划将提供有指导的癌症研究 为任职人数不足的农村高中生提供培训经验，以增加获得 以考虑到以下社会和地理挑战的方式增强STEM机会 学生们可能会面临。该计划的预期成果是加强学生的科学认同感和 通过接触1)更多的实践癌症研究经验，2)教师和 社区成员接受培训，以支持在学生的“家庭社区”继续工作，以及3)正规化 以支持社区癌症相关需求的方式分享经验的机会。 具体地说，拟议的骑士学者计划将1)增加俄勒冈州URM高中的数量 学生(特别是那些因种族/族裔、农村居住地和低收入而处于不利地位的学生) 参加为期1周、2周和6周的暑期癌症研究扩展实践；2) 通过持续参与STEM，为学生的“家庭社区”提供持续的支持 活动，密集的教师专业发展计划，以及与当地OHSU研究的正式链接 联络；3)通过整合学生参与与癌症相关的活动，创造一种分享经验的文化 社区计划(例如，在当地医院内跟踪和与非营利性组织的外展项目)。

PROJECT SUMMARY Recent trends highlight that the current and developing scientific workforce in the United States may not be adequately prepared nor reflect the diversity of students needed to tackle the increasingly complex and cross- disciplinary nature of biomedical research. Science experiences outside of the formal schooling environment have been shown to support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) trajectories by stimulating student interest in science, fostering student beliefs in their abilities, and by making science appealing and accessible to a variety of learners. However, access to such programs is often difficult for underrepresented minority (URM) students, including those disadvantaged due to race/ethnicity or residence in low-income rural or frontier areas. Therefore, the proposed Knight Scholars Program will provide mentored cancer research training experiences for underrepresented and rural high school students in order to increase access to enhanced STEM opportunities in a manner that takes into account the social and geographic challenges these students may face. The intended outcome of the Program is to strengthen students' science identity and resilience through exposure to 1) expanded hands-on cancer research experiences, 2) teachers and community members trained to support continued work in the students' “home community”, and 3) formalized opportunities to share experiences in ways that support their communities' cancer-related needs. Specifically the proposed Knight Scholars Program will 1) increase the number of URM Oregon high school students (specifically those disadvantaged due to race/ethnicity, rural residence and low-income) who participate in expanded hands-on summer cancer research experiences of 1-week, 2-weeks and 6-weeks; 2) develop ongoing support for students in their “home community” through continued engagement in STEM activities, intensive teacher professional development programs, and formal links to local OHSU research liaisons; 3) create a culture of shared experience by integrating student involvement in cancer-related community programs,(e.g., shadowing within local hospitals and outreach projects with non-profits).