Participants given the opportunity to work with award-winning scientist
Oak Ridge, Tenn. — Athea Steiger of Salamanca, New York was one of 52 middle school students chosen to participate in the Appalachian STEM Academy, a one-week summer program that allows students to interact and work with scientists from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and other science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) experts. The program is sponsored by the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Steiger is a student at Salamanca Intermediate, Salamanca, New York.
Steiger worked with other students in small collaborative teams with experienced teachers to utilize current technology to solve a problem in Appalachian communities. The small team approach provides an opportunity to collaboratively tackle a real-world issue in Appalachia and propose a solution to the issue through a hands-on, inquiry-based approach. In addition to research, many other activities are incorporated into the program to promote teamwork, expose students to college opportunities, and promote pride in the cultural richness and historical importance of the Appalachian region. This program is fully funded and complimentary to participants, and it is also open to high school students and high school teachers.
“Students are selected for the Appalachian STEM Academy through an application process. We identify students from the 13-state region who are interested in pursuing science, technology, engineering and math,” said ORAU Associate Manager Jennifer Tyrell. “Our goal is to engage students through STEM education and give them the opportunity to be mentored by award-winning scientists. We hope this program inspires passion for these fields and offers building blocks for a career in STEM.”
The educational program was divided into two cohorts of 26 students each. Cohort 1 occurred July 6 – 12, and cohort 2 occurred July 13 – 19. Participants were hosted by ORAU.
ORAU provides innovative scientific and technical solutions to advance national priorities in science, education, security and health. Through specialized teams of experts, unique laboratory capabilities and access to a consortium of more than 150 colleges and universities, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to advance national priorities and serve the public interest. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and federal contractor, ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education for the U.S. Department of Energy. Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org.