2018 Society Annual Report

SCIENCE FOSTERING COLLABORATION Mark Friedman works with students on their projects at the Los Angeles Maritime Institute.

ADVOCATE Program

SHOWING OFF THEIR SCIENCE

Jennifer Claudio’s students present research at the East Side Union High School District Fair in San Jose, Calif.

HEADING TO INTEL ISEF Lead Advocate Elizabeth Proctor poses with three of her students who qualified for Intel ISEF.

In 2018, Jeanne Richardson, a science teacher at Graham Junior High School in Texas, decided to organize the school district’s first sanctioned science and engineering fair for all grades. What led Jeanne to build a local fair? She was named a Society Advocate, taking part in a program that provides training, stipends and year-round support to mentors who help underrepresented and low-income students enter science research competitions. In addition to creating a science fair, Jeanne also mentors a cohort of eight underserved students in an after-school club called the Sci- ence Research Team. The growth in confidence Jeanne noticed among her students, thanks to

this club and the science fair, was profound. By informing students about science competitions, helping them navigate the application process and imparting a thirst for scientific research, Advocates are implementing a STEM pipeline for underserved students. This year’s 50 Advocates hailed from 28 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. They includ- ed middle and high school teachers, university professors and museum educators. Now in its fourth year, the program is continuing to reach more students, thanks to Advocates like Jeanne. The Advocate Program was created with sup- port from Arconic Foundation, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and Regeneron.

EXAMINING TINY WORMS Jeanne Richardson examines a sample containing tiny worms as part of a breakout session at the Advocate Training Institute.

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