Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
(N/A)
ORONO,ME 04469
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The University of Maine will continue running the successful Residential Summer Institute for Girls to train the sustainable engineering leaders of the future (SELF) from 2024 to 2028. Our Sustainable Engineering Leaders of the Future (SELF) program addresses two areas of educational need: 1) creating student experiential learning opportunities, and 2) recruiting and retaining girls from rural Maine in STEM careers. To achieve this, faculty members from the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture (NSFA), the Maine College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC), and Cooperative Extension at the University of Maine (UMaine), will collaborate with a local forest product industry partner (TimberHP by GO Lab) and agricultural partner (Wyman's) to host a short residential summer institute program on UMaine's campus for five years. Maine is the most rural state in the nation, and approximately 57% of Maine's K-12 student population attends schools in rural areas that are remote, distant, or on the fringe. Our program will target twenty (20) sophomore girls per year from rural counties in Maine, such as Washington, Piscataquis, Franklin, and Aroostook counties.Through the program, the girls willengage with university professionals and resources, explore various STEM programs offered by NSFA and MCEC, and participate in hands-on learning with real-life applications of STEM. The program will also focus on advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by incorporating students from minority, immigrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking families. The program will raise awareness of forestry and agricultural STEM programs, increase enrollment and retention at UMaine, address workforce shortages in Maine, and reduce gender disparities in certain STEM programs. The SELF program will promote STEM education and career opportunities for Maine's future sustainable engineering leaders.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The proposedSustainable Engineering Leaders of the Future (SELF) program aims to serve as a bridge pathway for rural high school girls (20girls/year), helping them connect to university professionals and resources, build a strong mindset for pursuing STEM majors, and explore various STEM programs offered by NSFA and the Maine College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC). Our SELF program addresses the two educational areas of need: 1) creating student experiential learning opportunities and 2) recruiting and retaining girls from Maine rural areas in STEM careers. We will deliver an immersive learning experience to participants through a three-and-a-half-day residential summer institute, focusing on the following objectives:Promote interest in STEM education and careers for girls in rural areas.Advance a greater understanding of science and engineering standards and practices.Raise awareness about the unique aspects of Maine's rural communities.Advance girls from rural areas to pursue college education in STEM.Promote persistence in STEM fields for mentors/counselors.
Project Methods
To attract rural high school girls, including new immigrants and asylum seekers also identified as underrepresented and minority groups, our recruitment strategies include hosting events in their communities, using social media to reach out to these communities, and featuring photos and stories of girls from underrepresented groups in previous cohorts. Specifically, Co-PD Klein will recruit students through 4-H programs and events throughout the state. 4-H serves youth in every county of the state and has an especially large rural youth audience, as well as programs and events that specifically serve refugee and immigrant youth. Utilizing these 4-H connections will ensure that girls from rural families as well as girls from families of new immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers are aware of this opportunity and encouraged to participate. Co-PD Zhang will distribute the program flyer to farmers attending the University of Maine's Wild Blueberry Field Day, an event that attracts a significant number of farmers in rural communities, such as Hancock and Washington County. Co-PD Tilbury will advertise the program during visits to rural Maine high schools as faculty mentor to Engineering Ambassadors and recruiter for NSF funded UMaine's S-STEM B-BEST Fellows program. Every year, we invite twenty (20) girls to participate in the SELF 3.0 program.Upon receiving grant approval, PDs will collaborate with FBRI's staff to organize program activities, such as advertising and marketing efforts through the FBRI website, extension newsletters, field days, and UMaine social media channels, distributing brochures and application forms with high school staff, collecting applications, coordinating logistics for travel, food service, and accommodations, designing daily activities and schedules, and conducting program evaluations. During the summer camp, ten girls will spend three and a half days on campus (Sunday through Wednesday) engaged in science talks with the PDs and conducting hands-on DIY projects to learn about scientific principles and engineering concepts, teamwork, and leadership. Recreation activities will also be arranged for the girls' enjoyment. Undergraduate and graduate student counselors will assist with learning and social activities, share their experiences as a STEM student at UMaine, and be role models for girls. A DIY project competition and luncheon will be arranged during the closing day for all participants, including girls, their parents, faculty mentors, and students.