Project SEED Reaches Out to Science Students

8/31/2009

Doug Sprowl, a senior at George Washington Community School in the Indianapolis Public School (IPS) District, is now considering something he thought impossible just a few years ago: a career in science. His altered career plans are a result of his participation in Project SEED (Summer Experience for the Economically Disadvantaged) at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) School of Science. The summer research program seeks to build interest in the science field for students who might, otherwise, slip through the cracks.

Now a confident student planning for college, it was just a few years ago that Sprowl's plans were drastically different. As an adolescent living in the southern part of his native Brazil in South America, he hardly attended school. He doubted he'd finish high school and expected to join a gang like other young males around him. However, his path was drastically altered when a Hoosier family adopted him and his two older brothers and brought them to Indianapolis for a new start. As a freshman at George Washington in the fall of 2006, Sprowl spoke no English and came home from school each day confused and frustrated.

"I had so many books, so many assignments and so much homework—I didn't know what I was doing," says Sprowl. "It was pretty difficult in the beginning." Listen

With support from his new family, however, Sprowl quickly gained traction in his studies, began to excel and now maintains an "A" average. After completing chemistry and Advanced Placement (AP) biology, Sprowl applied for and was accepted into Project SEED this summer, a competitive eight-week research program that gives high school students internships in laboratories at the IUPUI schools of Science and Medicine. Listen

"I like the biology field, and this summer, I got to work with [IUPUI's] microbiology and immunology department," says Sprowl. "I was working with a disease called chancroid, which leads to HIV and AIDS. I like the fact that I can study science and relate it to humans—that's the part of science that I find fascinating." Listen

Sprowl was just one of 24 students who participated in Project SEED this summer, which is a partnership with the Central Indiana chapter of the American Chemical Society. Working side by side with university scientists, the students helped collect and analyze data for actual research projects.

"Indiana is still catching up with the rest of the states in the Midwest as far as being math and science literate," says Jeff Watt, associate dean for Student Affairs and Outreach at IUPUI who also leads Project SEED. "Some of the data we're seeing shows if students as young as middle school get turned off to math or science, it's very difficult to turn them back and get them motivated to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) fields." Listen

Program leaders want to give as many students as possible early exposure to "real life" science research. Indianapolis has one of the largest Project SEED programs in the country and nearly doubled the number of its student interns this summer with increased funding from the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) and the IUPUI School of Science. Students receive stipend amounts between $2,800 and $3,300 for their summer work. Listen

"We're now seeing data coming out nationally that shows minority students, specifically, who participate in some sort of summer academic program are being retained at about a 75 percent rate when they enter college. Their cohorts are only being retained nationally about 20 to 30 percent," says Watt. "That's a pretty powerful statement that getting engaged in an activity like this…is a strong indicator that the student is going to be retained, reach graduation and enter a STEM field." Listen

While Sprowl has a passion for languages and leadership, his experience at Project SEED has given him confidence to consider career paths he previously thought would be too difficult. This fall, he'll complete his application for West Point United States Military Academy.

"With SEED, I was able to realize, 'Yes, I'm capable of doing this,'" says Sprowl. "It was hard in the beginning, but I made it through, I liked it and it was great experience. I'm not sure yet what my career focus will be, but now I know I can also go into science."

Watt says Project SEED hopes to maintain its higher enrollment and increase it further in the future. About 50 students apply each year, and ideally, program leaders would like to enroll all qualified applicants—giving disadvantaged students an opportunity to realize they're capable of succeeding in science.

Back to Life Sciences INdiana