Steer and trees summer research programs

描述（由申请人提供） 研究人员认为，研究是一个指导过程，为了鼓励学生追求研究事业，他们需要与导师一起动手研究。 研究人员在宾夕法尼亚大学开展了两个夏季研究项目，即青少年研究和环境科学教育（TREES）项目，一个高中研究项目和短期教育经验研究（STEER）项目，一个本科生研究实习项目。TREES和STEER是环境毒理学卓越中心（CEET）通过其社区外展和参与核心（COEC）开展的教育活动。该计划为高中和大学生提供暑期研究经验，并在每年夏天与许多综合活动并行运行。通过TREES和STEER，研究人员正在建立一个年轻学者的管道，以解决环境健康问题。宾夕法尼亚大学有能力实现这些目标，其基础是现有的培训基础设施，强大的环境健康研究基础以及教师培训未来科学家的承诺。 此外，由于树木计划是由研究生授课，它为他们提供了宝贵的课堂经验。到2012年，47名高中生参加了TREES计划，41名本科生参加了STEER计划。 这两个项目都是通过R25-ES 016146资助的，但研究人员建议按照NIEHS的建议在PAR-11-050下继续进行，并通过与当地高中教师合作扩大科学课程来扩大该项目。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant) The investigators believe that research is a mentoring process, and that to encourage students to pursue research careers, they need hands on research with a mentor. The investigators operate two summer research programs at the University of Pennsylvania, the Teen Research and Education in Environmental Science (TREES) Program, a high school research program and the Short Term Educational Experiences for Research (STEER) Program, an undergraduate research internship. TREES and STEER are educational activities of the Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology (CEET) through its Community Outreach and Engagement Core (COEC). The programs offer mentored summer research experiences to high school and college students and are run in parallel each summer with many integrated activities. Through TREES and STEER, the investigators are building a pipeline of young scholars to address environmental health problems. Penn is well positioned to achieve these goals based on its existing training infrastructure, its strong environmental health research base and the commitment of its faculty to train tomorrow's scientists. Additionally, because the TREES program is taught by graduate students, it provides them with valuable classroom experience. Through 2012, 47 high school students participated in the TREES program and 41 undergraduates participated in the STEER program. Both programs are funded through R25-ES016146, but the investigators propose to continue them under PAR-11-050 as recommended by the NIEHS as well as expand the program by working with local high school teachers to expand their science curriculum.