The Wheelock College of Education and Human Development hosts community outreach programs aimed at providing K-12 students with opportunities to engage with the STEM fields.
CityLab: Urban Squash
CityLab: Urban Squash
Overview
CityLab: Urban Squash is a biotechnology laboratory designed to interest local students in the science behind health and athletics data. CityLab also hosts a separate MobileLab program that can be used for a number of portable lab exercises.
Key Activities
- Health Education: CityLab is currently developing a laboratory-based unit in conjunction with local squash education programs including SquashBusters, CitySquash, and the Squash + Education Alliance, in which students learn about the physiological and biochemical processes of exercise.
Opportunities to Collaborate
- Faculty
- Provide Input: Faculty are encouraged to contact the program for opportunities to collaborate on program curriculum development.
- Volunteer: Faculty are encouraged to share their experiences in the sciences with students in CityLab and with CityLab Scholars throughout the year.
- Utilize MobileLab: Faculty are invited to provide suggestions and feedback on how MobileLab can contribute to STEM outreach efforts across the local community.
Contact
Don Derosa (donder@bu.edu, 617-353-4052)
SummerLab
SummerLab
Overview
SummerLab is a summer extension of CityLab that hosts up to 150 high school students for week-long programs engaging student in lab-based explorations of molecular biology.
Key Activities
- Laboratory Investigations: Students can participate in two different hands-on lab sessions: DNA, Genes, and Drug Production, which explores genes and biotechnology; or Clinical Connection: A Medical Research Challenge, which explores research and tools in medicine. Students work in teams alongside educators to study various biological questions.
- CityLab Scholars: Students that complete SummerLab are invited to become CityLab Scholars, who meet once monthly with faculty and graduate students to build networks around laboratory-based scientific exploration.
Opportunities to Collaborate
- Faculty
- Volunteer: Faculty are encouraged to share their experiences in the sciences with students in SummerLab and work with CityLab Scholars throughout the year.
- Students
- Volunteer: Graduate students are encouraged to share their experiences in the sciences with high school students in SummerLab and work with CityLab Scholars throughout the year
Contact
617-353-4052
Upward Bound Math & Science
Upward Bound Math & Science
Overview
The Upward Bound Math Science Program at BU is designed to prepare low-income and first-generation college-bound students for college and a potential career in math or science.
Key Activities
- Teaching STEM: The Math and Science section of Upward Bound encourages students to strengthen their knowledge of STEM fields. Throughout the year, students attend tutoring sessions and classes, explore science in BU laboratories, and perform joint exercises with the general Upward Bound program also hosted at BU. During school vacation weeks, students take themed classes on subjects like robotics, video game design, engineering, geology, and more.
- Summer Intensive: Students reside on BU’s campus for a six-week, six class program designed to prepare them for college by preparing for entrance tests and testing their knowledge of math, science, literature, and writing. During the program, students spend one day a week in a faculty and graduate student-led lab, learning about nanotechnology, green energy, and more. Students also explore the city of Boston and take part in a number of social enrichment activities.
Opportunities to Collaborate
- Faculty
- Host a Summer Lab: Faculty can host laboratory sessions during the program’s Science Vacation Weeks (held during February or April school vacation weeks) and Summer Wednesday Labs (held on 3 Wednesdays in July). UBMS invites individual faculty members and faculty groups.
- Host a Mini–Internship: Faculty can host UBMS rising seniors interested in their fields for mini lab internships during the month of July.
- Speak at Orientation: Contact the program for the possibility to speaking at UBMS orientation in late June.
- Students
- Host a Mini-Internship: Graduate students can work with faculty to host UBMS rising seniors interested in their fields for mini lab internships during the month of July.
Contact
Nicole Sjoblom, UBMS Project Director (617-353-2551, nsjoblom@bu.edu)