STEM RAYS Marie Silver, Mort Sternheim Franklin County Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Research Academies for Young Scientists

Brought to you by … National Science Foundation –$800,000 for 3 years –1 of 16 projects in AYS program UMass –STEM Education Institute –School of Education Greenfield Community College –Initiated idea for project Franklin County business and nonprofit partners Franklin County School Districts

What is STEM RAYS? A model “out of school” science program Encourage students to study science and math Consider careers in STEM fields

What’s Special About STEM RAYS? Connects students and teachers with environmental research programs at UMass, GCC, Smith, UNH –Arsenic in the environment, Connecticut River watershed, birds, weather and climate, air quality Students do experiments, collect and analyze data relevant to these research efforts Field trips, annual research conference at UMass Research study of the effects of teachers’ and students’ participation in scientific research

Features of Student Programs Weekly 2 hour after school programs, grades week summer programs, grades 6-8 (2007, 2008) – 40 students July students per school 9 elementary and 2 middle schools in successful January – June 2007 pilot (~100 students) ~200 students and parents at June Saturday research reporting conference ~19 schools in full program, Sept. 07 – Dec. 08

STEM RAYS Evaluation For the first year of a program, the speed of start-up and quality of the first- year offering have been exceptional when compared to other projects we have evaluated, with recruitment of teachers and commencement of activities starting almost immediately upon receipt of funds.

STEM RAYS Evaluation, cotd. This efficiency is due to the experience and dedication of the leadership, who have shown themselves very attentive to details of the program and to have strong and constant avenues of communication with all participants and members of the team. It is doubtful that they could have accomplished what they did without the years of relationships built up prior to the awarding of this project. - Peterfreund Associates

Pipeline proposal Continue program to June, schools, 200+ students each year Funding –$200,000 Pipeline –$200,000 NSF