High School Program in Biomedical and Health Sciences

描述(由申请者提供)：对科学家的需求超过了对从事科学相关学科的教育或职业感兴趣的人数。尽管少数人对科学的兴趣与白人相当或超过白人，但有色人种和弱势背景的人在高等教育，特别是科学教育中的代表性不足。为高中青少年提供接触科学环境的机会和科学家导师的鼓励，是培养对科学教育的热情和持续追求的关键因素。这种机会在促进有色人种青年对科学的兴趣方面尤为关键。NIDDK代表不足的人短期教育方案(STEP-UP)的目标是增加致力于科学事业并为科学事业做好准备的青年人数，特别是在NIDDK相关任务区。优先招收生物医学和健康科学中代表性较低的人群中对科学感兴趣的学生，包括有色人种学生、社会经济背景较低的学生和残疾学生。自2007年以来，加州大学旧金山分校由Bonnie Halpern-Felsher博士担任PI/计划协调员，一直是高中升学计划的三个协调地点之一。我们正在申请继续并扩大我们对高中升学计划的协调，特别是成为从毗邻的48个美国招收学生的协调机构之一。Step Up和我们的协调机构的具体目标是：1)招募和保留25名在生物医学科学领域代表性较低的11年级和12年级高中生，包括来自代表性不足的种族和民族群体的个人，来自弱势背景的个人，以及残疾个人。2)为这些学生提供10-12周的计划，提供指导、接触科学研究和接触NIDDK任务区的机会。3)帮助改善年轻人成功申请大学入学的情况，否则他们的教育选择可能会更有限。4)通过正规培训和教学指导经验，为所有导师，包括研究生和医学生、博士后研究员和教职员工提供辅导青少年的培训，从而培养出一支训练有素的导师队伍，鼓励青少年进入科学领域。为代表性不足的青年群体提供进入科学研究渠道的机会，不仅将增加来自不同背景的青年进入生物医学和卫生科学的人数，而且还将增加不同背景的科学家和保健专业人员的数量。Step-Up强调伙伴关系，注重学术准备，从而在创造成功条件方面发挥重要作用，并成为解决科学和卫生专业代表性不足这一复杂问题的关键。 与公共健康相关：NIDDK面向未被充分代表的人的短期教育计划(STEP-UP)的最终目标是增加致力于科学教育和职业生涯的年轻人的数量，通过导师和学术追求在一个令人兴奋的、承诺的和支持性的环境中向来自不同社区的年轻人展示科学，从而促进和培养科学素养和兴奋感。优先招收生物医学和健康科学中代表性较低的人群中对科学感兴趣的学生，包括有色人种学生、社会经济背景较低的学生和残疾学生。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The demand for scientists outweighs the number of people interested in pursuing education or careers in science-related disciplines. While minority interest in science matches or exceeds that of whites, individuals of color and from disadvantaged backgrounds are underrepresented in higher education, and in particular science education. Providing high school adolescents with opportunities for exposure to scientific environments and encouragement from scientist mentors are key factors in developing a passion for and sustained pursuit of education in the sciences. Such opportunities are especially critical in promoting science interest among youth of color. The goal of the NIDDK Short-Term Education Program for Underrepresented Persons (STEP-UP) is to increase the number of youth who are committed to and well-positioned for careers in the sciences, especially in the NIDDK-related mission areas. Priority is given to recruiting and accepting students with interest in science from populations less represented in the biomedical and health sciences, including students of color, students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and disabled students. Since 2007, the University of California, San Francisco, with Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher as the PI/Program coordinator, has been one of three coordinating sites for the high school STEP-UP program. We are applying to continue and expand our coordination of the high school STEP-UP program, and specifically to be one of the coordinating institutions to recruit students from the 48 contiguous United States. The specific aims of STEP-UP and our coordinating institution are to: 1) Recruit and retain 25 11th and 12th grade high school students less represented in the biomedical sciences, including individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. 2) Provide these students with a 10-12 week program that offers mentoring, opportunities for hands-on exposure to scientific research, and exposure to NIDDK-mission areas. 3) Help improve applications for successful college admission among youth who might otherwise have more limited educational choices. 4) Provide all mentors, including graduate and medical students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty, with training in mentoring adolescents through formal training and didactic mentoring experiences, thus resulting in a cadre of mentors well trained to encourage adolescents to enter the sciences. Providing opportunities for underrepresented groups of youth to enter the science pipeline will not only increase the number of youth from diverse backgrounds entering biomedical and health sciences, but will increase the number of diverse scientists and health care professions. STEP-UP emphasizes partnerships and focuses on academic preparation, thereby playing a large role in creating the conditions for success and becoming crucial for solving the complex problem of underrepresentation in the science and health professions. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: With the ultimate goal of increasing the number of youth who are committed to and well- positioned for education and careers in the sciences, the NIDDK Short-Term Education Program for Underrepresented Persons (STEP-UP) promotes and nurtures science literacy and excitement by exposing science to young people from diverse communities in an exciting, committed, supportive environment through mentorship and scholarly pursuit. Priority is given to recruiting and accepting students with interest in science from populations less represented in the biomedical and health sciences, including students of color, students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and disabled students.