MSU space grad students INSPIRE teens

Thirteen Mississippi State University earth and space graduate students are partnering with middle and high schools within the Golden Triangle area to assist young people a better understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills. The partnership is through the INSPIRE (Initiating New Science Partnerships in Rural Education) program. This year’s INSPIRE fellows from MSU are working with Columbus middle and high school, and Starkville High School aiming to rid the idea that math and science is boring. Program directors are gathering valuable data for researching students’ interest in STEM subjects. The graduate students gain experience in communicating complicated scientific theories to general audiences; and teachers discover innovative ways to tie real-world lessons into their classrooms. INSPIRE is a 5-year National Science Foundation K-12 grant. INSPIRE is currently taking applications for fall semester participants (at www.gk12.msstate.edu). Only graduates majoring in the STEM field and in their second year or later are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is Feb. 5. Source: MSU’s The Reflector, Jan. 28, 2014.