BREE High School Program

High Schools! Participate in the Basin Resilience to Extreme Events Project

The High School Program offers students and teachers the opportunity to participate in current research. Through involvement in the Basin Resilience to Extreme Events (BREE) research program, participants develop skills in scientific methods and Earth systems thinking and experience what it is like to be a scientist.

Teacher and Student Teams
One teacher and two students comprise each high school team (teams must have at least 1 female student). These teams join a group of fellow high school teams, undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty that research the interactions of climate, environment, society and land use policy. By participating in the High School Program, teachers and students become a part of a community of researchers and local specialists that engage and challenge youth in Vermont and beyond.

• Attend a virtual training event during the week of June 21-25, 2021.
• Learn research methods and skills.
• Learn and experience how a research team functions.
• Investigate a research question of their own design over a three-month period.
• Attend a virtual Vermont EPSCoR Student Research Symposium and present research findings at the conclusion of the program (November, 2021).

Natural and Physical Science
Use provided sampling kits to collect water quality parameter data in-person at a stream site of your choosing.

Data Mining Project
Utilize the VT EPSCoR Streams Database to conduct a data mining project of your choosing.

All teams will complete and present a project at a virtual Vermont EPSCoR Student Research Symposium. Guidance on best practices for curriculum integration of these concepts will be provided.

Participants will commit to be involved in the project for three months (June - September), spending ~3 hours per week on project-related data collection and analysis. Each team is trained in the necessary skills and content during the virtual training event. Teams will participate in the BREE research program remotely from their schools from June through September, with regular check-ins with CWDD staff scientists throughout. Participants will complete an individual research project and present their results at a virtual Vermont EPSCoR Student Research Symposium in September. The training event and symposium are required elements of participation. Teams are welcome, and encouraged, to continue to participate in subsequent years if they choose.

This experience will provide students invaluable insight into the professional world of science. The teams not only learn science content, but understand how a research team functions and experience first-hand the scientific process. Participation in this program will help inform students about educational and career opportunities available in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Many participants go on to study science, math or engineering in their next level of education.

Research experience can be a powerful way for teachers to enhance their science content knowledge and pedagogy. Teachers have the opportunity to work closely with the students they select for their team, but can also integrate their learning and experience into their classes.
 
Upon completion of the program teachers receive a $500 stipend. Teachers can decide how they receive this stipend – either as a one-time financial stipend, or funds to be used in the purchase of equipment for their classrooms.

Teams must complete the online application and submit all application materials to be considered. Separate application components need to be completed by each team member. After a teacher completes their application, emails will be sent to the requested students with instructions for completing their part of the application. Former participants of the VT EPSCoR Streams Project are encouraged to apply. Past participation in an EPSCoR project does not ensure acceptance. Participation in this program requires a serious time commitment (~3 hrs per week). Please consider this when applying.
 

• Apply to Participate



Electronic submission deadline: April 8, 2021 by 4:00 pm


Teams should include at least one female student. We strongly encourage individuals with disabilities, and students from traditionally underrepresented groups to apply.
 
* Dates, availability and location may change due to the COVID pandemic. Stipend amount is contingent upon available funding
 
Contact Information:
VT EPSCoR Center for Workforce Development and Diversity
cwdd@uvm.edu