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Washington University School of Medicine's Young Scientist Program is a student-initiated project that offers disadvantaged high school students exceptional opportunities for interaction with scientists working at the forefront of biomedical research. Students from the St. Louis City Public Schools participate through summer research internships (Summer Focus), innovative classroom experiments (Teaching Teams), partnerships with teachers trained as Science Coaches and an award-winning "Ask-a-Scientist" web site (Mad Scientist Network) staffed by scientists worldwide. A unique feature of this successful program is that it was conceived, launched and is staffed almost entirely by our graduate and medical students. These enthusiastic one-on-one role models are similar in age, vigor and perspective to the participants. Moreover, they are in turn transformed by the experience and their commitment to science education is deeply affected by this intensive involvement in the education of youngsters, many of whom live in poverty.
New components that will extend the reach and enhance the impact of this HHMI-supported project are a refined and refocused Teaching Teams component, partnership with 'The Academy of Science of St. Louis' and the 'St. Louis Science Center' and an ambitious teacher training plan that will create Science coaches in the neediest high schools in St. Louis. The school is in a strong position to attain the objectives of this proposal, with over 200 potential training sites, nearly $125 million annually in NIH-supported research, energetic and intensely committed student volunteers, the unwavering support of the administration, and a proven record of success instilling excitement for science and enhancing the learning of disadvantaged high school students.
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