STEM RISE Opens Doors for Yates High School Students to Explore Paths to Science
Students from Houston’s Third Ward Enjoyed a Hands-on STEM Experience in UH Labs
High school senior Zander Harris has always been curious about how scientists make discoveries in laboratories and how medical professionals prepare for their careers. He wondered what it would be like to slip on a white coat and work shoulder to shoulder with real scientists in a real medical lab.
Wonder no more, young Zander.
He and five schoolmates from Jack Yates High School experienced all of the above during the seven-week STEM Research Inquiry Summer Enrichment Program (STEM RISE) at the University of Houston. The research lab experience and hands-on lessons covering the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math, immersed students in the work and daily life of UH science laboratories.
The program, from the UH College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics teachHOUSTON program and Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, in partnership with Jack Yates High School in Houston’s Third Ward, aims to encourage curious young scholars and help improve the racial and ethnic diversity of professionals who enter scientific and medical fields.
The program is funded by a three-year $300,000 Improving Undergraduate STEM Education grant from the National Science Foundation. Other funding came from John and Peggy Prugh and the Dr. Patrice O. Yarbough Research Gateway scholarships.
The 2023 program for Yates students will take place June 20 – July 28.
Learn More about STEM RISE
UH Photo and Video Story: STEM RISE
Sara Strong, University Media Relations