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Comment: Transformative student experiences through Project SEED

by Angele Kwimi, chair, ACS Committee on Project SEED
December 5, 2024 | A version of this story appeared in Volume 102, Issue 38

 

Photo of Angele Kwimi.
Credit: Courtesy of Angele Kwimi
Angele Kwimi

The American Chemical Society Project SEED’s mission is to provide science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research, learning, and growth opportunities for high school students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This past summer, about 371 high school students were selected from a pool of 1,685 applicants to participate in summer research projects. Of the applicants who applied this year, 29% were of African descent or Black, 26% were Asian or Pacific Islander, 4% were Caribbean, 35% were Hispanic, 3% were Indigenous, 3% were Middle Eastern or North African, 21% were White, 1% identified with a race or ethnicity that was not listed, and 1% preferred not to say. (Participants could choose more than one race or ethnicity.) About 62% of the cohort was female, 35% was male, 1% was nonbinary, and 1% preferred not to say. The year-in-school data for the selected group of students indicated that 27% identified as high school seniors, 48% as rising seniors, 24% as rising juniors, and 1% as rising sophomores.

These students participated both virtually and in person in laboratories across 55 institutions in the US. The SEED committee approved 338 research projects, and over 380 mentors worked with SEED students during the summer for 8–10 weeks. ACS raised the stipend to $4,000 per student in 2023 to make the program a more desirable option for students.

At the conclusion of the 2024 summer program, students were asked about their experiences as part of Project SEED. Here are a few of the responses, which were submitted anonymously:

“My experience at ACS Project SEED has instilled in me a new-found love for chemistry and I have now decided to pursue a biochemistry major in college.”

Project SEED’s vision is to empower students through transformative research experiences. Help from volunteers and donors is necessary to see this vision through.

“Project SEED has really opened my eyes to the world of research. Working with mentors and other students has been such a valuable experience. I’ve learned so much about collaboration, problem-solving, etc. Plus, it’s been awesome to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to real-world experiments. Overall, it’s been a fantastic journey, and I’m excited to see where it takes me next!”

“I am leaving the SEED program feeling more confident in exploring different aspects of my education. Although college will bring its own challenges, I am excited to continue working with my research group, all thanks to the SEED program.”

In addition to the experience of the summer research programs, students and alumni benefit from other initiatives, such as scholarships and sponsorships to attend and present research findings at ACS local section meetings. In 2024, 50 Project SEED students were awarded 1-year scholarships. One student was awarded the annual Joseph D. Loconti scholarship, which is renewable for up to 4 years. And three students received the annual Ciba Specialty Chemicals scholarship. Nine more students are expected to receive renewable scholarships from the Ciba Specialty Chemicals and Loconti funds. In total, $315,000 in scholarships from Project SEED, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, and Loconti is projected for the 2024–25 academic year.

In August 2024, ACS helped sponsor approximately 30 students to attend ACS Fall 2024 in Denver and present their research results during poster sessions. For most students, this is their first time attending a large scientific conference, and it is a formative experience they carry into their academic pursuits.

Project SEED’s success is rooted in the efforts of volunteers, including mentors and coordinators, whom we would like to thank. The ACS Committee on Project SEED awarded two ChemLuminary Awards this year. The awardees were the New York and Midland Local Sections. Additionally, Karina Schaefer and Andrea Merg were selected as recipients of the 2023 Outstanding Project SEED Mentor Award.

Project SEED’s vision is to empower students through transformative research experiences. Help from volunteers and donors is necessary to see this vision through. For more information on the program, visit www.acs.org/projectseed.

We invite you to consider supporting Project SEED with a philanthropic gift. To donate online, please visit donate.acs.org/seed or contact the ACS Office of Philanthropy at donate@acs.org for information about other ways to give.

Views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of C&EN or ACS.

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