Reflections on YSP's impact these past 20 years and its exciting future.

Written by Peggy Ni - YSP Volunteer

As we are approaching the 20^th Anniversary celebration of YSP, it seems like a great time to reflect on the impact YSP has and why it is so important to be involved in promoting science. For me, the reason why I've been involved stems from high school. The one I attended was very small; though the learning environment there was wonderfully supportive, it unfortunately meant that science courses I wanted to take weren't available. From that, I became determined in college and grad school to bring science opportunities directly to students who wanted to learn more. Luckily, here at WashU, YSP's teaching teams do just that by going to classrooms and directly engaging students with hands-on demonstrations. While talking to Carl Franz, a teaching team head for chemistry, I discovered his reasons for being a part of YSP. "I enjoy being around young people and feel privileged to have the opportunity to help shape their curious minds," he says. Kasey Wagoner, a teaching team head for physics, cites the positive interactions obtained while working with students as the driving force for his involvement with YSP. "When I was an undergrad I went into a couple of schools to do demonstrations. Every time I put on demos the students seemed to have a great time and to get really excited about physics," he reminisces. It's clear that our reasons for becoming involved in promoting science are diverse, but whatever they are, the benefits of doing so are numerous.

I have had many positive experiences volunteering with YSP. For example, as a tutor last year for the Summer Focus program, I helped a high school student who was working on a research project in our lab understand the biology behind the experiments he was conducting as well as improve his scientific writing skills on lab reports. This experience was so gratifying because I felt that I was making a positive impact on someone's scientific career. Regarding the beneficial effect volunteering with YSP has on us, Kasey sums it up the best. "Every time I work with students they get very excited about the things science has to offer and the cool things that scientists do whether it's in the lab or in the field. This excitement is contagious, I always leave these interactions excited about the world of science," he observes. Dr. Barbara Schaal, a professor at Washington University studying evolutionary plant genetics who is delivering one of the keynote addresses for the 20^th Anniversary Celebration, offers a different perspective on the benefits for involvement with YSP. "The [Summer Focus high school] students are wonderful and add to the overall atmosphere of the lab," she says. "And, they have helped generate data, often on projects that might not have gotten done."

I think we can definitely say that in the past 20 years, YSP has positively influenced both the graduate students and post-docs who volunteer as well as the schools it visits and the young, budding scientists that the program mentors. As I'm reflecting on YSP's success, I am also wondering how YSP can grow and evolve to continue its impact on the next generation of scientists. Carl thinks it would be great for YSP to show these students the diverse environments in which scientists could learn and work. "Teaming up with other educational institutions in the area would expose students to alternative learning environments, such as community colleges and Liberal Arts colleges," he says. "The students involved in YSP come from diverse backgrounds and could benefit by encountering the full educational gamut." I asked Dr. Schaal if she had any suggestions. "Perhaps add a school year component," she advises. Kasey's thoughts are on the same line. "I think that prolonged involvement with students is important," he states. Indeed, most of the Summer Focus participants are so incredibly bright and talented that they would have no problem being involved in a year-long project that would really allow them to move beyond learning lab techniques and start honing their scientific thinking and problem-solving skills. And in fact, how great would it be if after a year, they would be the ones tutoring the new students or helping out with demos. With YSP's 20^th Anniversary symposium coming up, I am so excited to discuss these science education issues and share mentoring experiences with the day's speakers and participants!

YSP 20 Year Celebration - June 6, 2011

YSP celebrates its 20th year in 2011. To commemorate this occasion, we are inviting all students, volunteers, alumni, teachers, PIs, and supporters of YSP to join us at a day-long symposium on June 6th, 2011 at Washington University. We hope to encourage connections and discussion among those that have helped YSP become the success it is today.

For additional information and to register, please visit the YSP website: http://ysp.wustl.edu

Schedule:

MORNING SESSION - 8:30-11:30
Farrell Learning and Teaching Center

Coffee and breakfast available in FLTC lobby

Welcome - Dean Larry Shapiro

Presentations by:

Dr Jim Mc Carter, Dr Lynn Bry, Dr Matt Schreiber - Founders of YSP

Dr Bart Bartlett - YSP Summer Focus Participant (1995)

Lesley Rankin - YSP Summer Focus Participant (2008)

Rona Robinson-Hill - YSP Teacher and Researcher Partnership

Dr Andrew Grillo-Hill - Former YSP Graduate Student Director

AFTERNOON SESSION 12:30-5:30

12:30-3:00 Farrell Learning and Teaching Center

Roundtable Discussion
Connecting Teachers, Volunteers, and Students to Influence the Next Generation of Scientists

Lunch Break
YSP Product Fair and Posters in the Farrell Lobby

3:30-5:30 Eric P. Newman Education Center, Main Auditorium

KEYNOTE ADDRESSES:
Yolanda George - AAAS
Dr Barbara Schaal
Dr Bruce Alberts

Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements

CELEBRATORY BBQ DINNER - 6:30
The Ellen S. Clark Hope Plaza at BJCIH

Speaker profiles:

Keynote speaker: Dr Bruce Alberts, University of California San Francisco
Dr Alberts has been widely involved in science education nationally and internationally. As a member of the National Academy of Sciences, Dr Alberts helped develop the National Science Education standards with a focus on hands-on problem solving and inquery based learning. He has worked with the InterAcademy Council to promote scientific thought worldwide. In addition to the many accolades and honors he has received as a molecular biologist and biochemist, he serves as Editor-in-Chief of Science magazine and has written the textbook The Molecular Biology of the Cell.

Featured speaker: Dr Barbara Schaal, Washington University in St Louis
Dr Schaal is distinguished both as a scientist and a mentor. A fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academy of Sciences, Dr Schaal’s service reaches from local to international societies. She has received the Distinguished Faculty Award from Washington University for her scientific and mentoring excellence. Dr Schaal has a strong connection to science education at all levels, including serving as a mentor for YSP’s Summer Focus program.

Yolanda George, American Association for the Advancement of Science
As Deputy Director and Program Director of the AAAS Education Programs, Ms. George works to increase the participation of minorities, women and disabled persons in science and engineering. She has developed and directed numerous programs reaching students of all ages from pre-college through graduate school. In addition to promoting formal science education, Ms. George is heavily involved in scientific outreach, directing programs such as Science Linkages in the Community and Science Education Reform for All. She has authored or co-authored papers, pamphlets, and science manuals to encourage parental involvement in promoting science and math and on the use of inquiry based learning in youth organizations. She has received several awards because of her service and support of these efforts.

Dr Bart Bartlett, University of Michigan
In 1995, as a budding scientist, Bart Bartlett participated in the Young Scientist Program. The research he conducted that summer at Washington University convinced him to pursue a degree in chemistry after graduating from Metro High School in St Louis. While pursuing a BS in Chemistry at Washington University, Dr Bartlett was an American Chemical Society scholar. Since his years at Washington University, Dr Bartlett has developed a successful career in chemistry, becoming an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Michigan in 2008. He continues to support the development of young scientists as a professor and mentor to undergraduate and graduate students.

Dr Matthew George, Jr, Howard University
Dr George serves as the Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Howard University in Washington, DC. He received his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley and has gone on to study a wide range of research topics related to gene evolution, expression and interaction in various biological processes. He is highly involved in the education of graduate students at Howard University in mentoring, administration and teaching. Dr George is featured in the “Science in American Life” exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Dr Andrew Grillo-Hill, Science & Health Education Partnership at the University of California San Francisco
Andrew received his PhD in Neuroscience in 2004 and was a postdoctoral scholar at the Center for Inquiry in Science Teaching and Learning, both at Washington University in St. Louis. During his graduate training, Andrew was student coordinator of YSP. He is currently an academic coordinator for the University of California-San Francisco’s Science and Health Education Partnership (SEP), a program founded by Drs Bruce Alberts and David Ramsay. SEP reaches out to classrooms in the San Francisco area providing teachers and underrepresented students with hands on science learning experiences in the classroom and in the laboratory.