Education and Outreach
RI EPSCoR works closely with its Advisory Council and partners in the state to develop an innovative approach to science education and outreach.
We recognize the need to increase the number of students interested in pursuing science degrees and related professions, especially for populations currently underrepresented in science. By supporting existing activities that are successfully promoting this aim and working to implement new programs, RI EPSCoR endeavors to build a qualified workforce from the ground up. Two examples of the work being undertaken as part of this initiative are:
- Undergraduate Center for Marine Life Sciences
- Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships
(SURF program - see below)
RI EPSCoR Academy
Funding Type: National Science Foundation
Awarded: May 2006
The RI EPSCoR Academy, a key component of the RII grant, fosters the integration of research, education, innovation and communication statewide. It works to:
- Develop the human capital necessary to support and sustain the growth of competitive research capacity in the life sciences
- Broaden the participation of women and underrepresented ethnic and racial minorities in the STEM workforce
- Provide researchers with targeted entrepreneurial guidance to encourage research innovation, stimulate technology transfer, and promote commercialization and new business development
- Develop and maintain sustainable communication mechanisms to build and enhance a strong statewide network of the state’s and region’s scientists, institutions of higher education, and private and public sectors.
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF)
Purpose: RI-EPSCoR (Rhode Island Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) and RI-INBRE (Rhode Island IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence) collaborated for the second time to award up to 40 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships for 2009. Each program awards up to $3,500 to support undergraduate students working under the supervision of a professional mentor in research projects in either Biomedical Sciences (NIH-INBRE) or Genomics, Proteomics, and Marine Life Sciences (NSF-EPSCoR).
Each undergraduate research project demonstrates scientific merit, innovation, ambition, the potential for novel results, and has a positive impact on the student’s education and future potential. These awards aim to encourage students to work with a mentor and participate directly in scientific research. The completed projects will not only enrich the Summer Undergraduate Fellow’s research experience, but it will also enhance their competitiveness and aspirations as they plan future pursuits in the life sciences.
