Nearly 100 Memphis-area high school students and teachers visited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital February 25 for an exclusive look at science in progress.
The inaugural Scienca Scholars of Tomorrow Symposium showcased how the scientific method, as a means of problem-solving, is put into practice by St. Jude researchers. Student participants were identified by their science teachers as showing strong interest in pursuing science or science-related careers and were then evaluated and selected by a committee of St. Jude faculty and staff.
“While these students are quite knowledgeable about fundamental principles of science, most high school students have limited opportunities to see how these concepts are applied to basic and clinical research,” said Suzanne Baker, PhD, of St. Jude Developmental Neurobiology. “By bringing students to the St. Jude campus for a day of first-hand experience with our scientific community, we hope to enhance their interest in science and highlight how a strong education in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) can be applied to answer exciting and diverse research questions.”
James R. Downing, MD, St. Jude president and chief executive officer, opened the day’s events with welcoming remarks, followed by a presentation by Michael Dyer, PhD, director of the Developmental Biology Division and co-leader of the Developmental Biology and Solid Tumor Program.
The day-long event featured tours of laboratories, clinics and core facilities, enabling students to interact with scientists and clinicians. In addition, students heard case studies from faculty members, listened to staff presentations, attended a career panel and joined postdoctoral fellows for lunch.
For more information about the Science Scholars program or questions about the event, email ScienceScholars@stjude.org or call (901) 595-0750.
