NU-MRSEC Northwestern University DMR-0076097 Graduate Students and Postdocs Mentor Diverse Middle-School Students in Community Education

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NU-MRSEC Northwestern University DMR-0076097
Graduate Students and Postdocs Mentor Diverse
Middle-School Students in Community Education
Outreach Laura Ernst
The NU-MRSEC has forged a partnership with the
Chute Middle School in Evanston, IL, where the
majority of students are underrepresented
minority. The school has a total of 609 students
in grades 6-8 54.5 of which are
African-American and 11 Hispanic. 42.7 come
from low-income homes. In conjunction with the
lead science teacher at Chute, selected MRSEC
graduate students, faculty, and staff have begun
working with a diverse group of fifteen 7th and
8th grade students. Sessions take place weekly
after school at Chute. An evening parent-student
orientation, held at Northwestern University on
March 30, 2005, kicked off the program. Using
components of the MWM Program, MRSEC graduate
students and postdocs introduce and demonstrate
scientific concepts. These graduate students play
a key role in planning didactic science
activities and mentoring young students.
CHANSE participants learn about polymers after
school.
Graduate students explain concepts and
demonstrate activities.
Participants make polymers and get creative.