1. NE EPSCoR Mission • Improve STEM research capacity and competitiveness of state investigators • Promote STEM fields and enhance student interest in pursuing degree programs in STEM fields. • Improve diversity in STEM fields • Foster Economic Development Collaborative Efforts

2. Project Reports Project Reports

3. Enhanced Collaboration: Opportunities & Challenges • Maximize use of available funds • Formal and Informal program evaluation and coordinated reporting procedures to improve program quality • Inclusive, state-wide participation • Input from experts in education

4. NE EPSCoR’s Young Nebraska Scientist Initiative A Collaborative Outreach Proposal

5. Our Vision • Centralized infrastructure: Established, on-going programs run regardless of grant funds • One-stop “shopping” for a number of interested groups • PI’s: Broader Impacts Statements! Most don’t know what to do, how to do it…We can help! • Teacher Preparation Programs: Pre-service teachers need opportunities to work with students and scientists AND scientists need to learn about good educational practices • Recruiting Departments: Showcase Nebraska’s post-secondary opportunities…up close and personal • Secondary Students, Parents and Teachers: Identify opportunities quickly, Increase state-wide participation

6. Focused Outreach Mission Strengthen K-16 STEM Pipeline: Increase Interest, Participation, College and Career Consideration Collaborative Efforts

7. Young Nebraska Scientist • Week-Long • Summer Camps • Location:Participating Nebraska post-secondary institutions • Attendance • Year 1: 2 camps, grades flexible • Year 2: Add 9th and 10th grade; 3 camps, consecutive weeks • Year 3: Add 11th and 12th grade; Summer Research Experiences; 3 camps • Annually Thereafter: 3 camps on consecutive weeks • NE EPSCoR: • Lead Institution • Overall event management and financial responsibility • Provide scholarships for underrepresented individuals • Participating • Institutions • Recruit faculty to develop and implement activities • Recruit students to serve as camp counselors • Recruit camp participants from NE schools

8. Conceptual Focus • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math • Multidisciplinary Camps Focus The Process ofScience and Inquiryvs. Content Science, Technology and Society

9. Camp Format • Check-In: Sunday, late afternoon • Check-Out: Saturday, late morning • Sunday night Camp Kick-Off (Sponsor?) • Morning, Afternoon, Evening schedules • Half-Day or Day-Long Activities • Can also extend over the week or several days • One, day-long field trip for entire camp • Evening Science Demos and Activities • Examples: Physics of Football, Science in the Movies • Field Trips to participating institutions • Friday night Iron Scientist (guests from participating institutions with participating student teams)

10. Parent Participation • Student “poster” presentations on Saturday morning • Information session for participating institutions on Saturday morning OR representatives from institutions circulate through “poster” presentations (middle level)

11. Facilities and Funding • Alternate camp location • Host multiple camps at the same site • Participant Fees: $100-$120 per participant to off-set the cost of facilities, room and board, counselors, transportation, etc. (NOT faculty fees) • Underrepresented Minority Scholarships: Provided by NE EPSCoR • Chaperones from underrepresented groups necessary

12. Summer 2008 • Host Site: UNL • Dates: Sunday, July 13 through Saturday, July 19 • Students: 40 • Chaperones: 6

13. Additional Considerations • Training for Faculty and Students (Grad,Undergrad,Post-Doc) from Participating Institutions • How to do Interdisciplinary Work • What is Inquiry? • Relationship building and Communication

14. Organizational Chart

15. Closing • Questions • Discussion