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STEM Research Program for Teachers Accepting Applications

• By Stephen Noonoo
• 12/15/11

Applications are still open for The Siemens Foundation and Discovery Education's all-expense paid research program for teachers, Siemens Teachers as Researchers (STARs), which next year will grow to include two new program sites and new dates. STARs pairs educators with scientists for custom research projects over the summer months to improve STEM teaching in the United States.

The new sites include Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, TN and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, WA. This summer, 40 educators will collaborate with scientific teams in small groups to conduct individually designed research projects. The ORNL STARs program includes projects on a wide range of topics, including energy, advanced materials, biological systems, and neutron sciences. The second STARs program at PNNL will feature STEM topics, such as sustainable energy and environmental molecular science.

The 2012 STARs programs will take place June 17-29 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and July 8-20 at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Each teacher will also receive a $300 mini-grant to purchase equipment and supplies for his or her classroom and a $500 stipend.

The STARs program is currently accepting applications online. Applications are due by February 9, and notification of selection will be sent to teachers in March.

“While reviewing applications for our STARs program, we look for a diverse group of educators with strong academic backgrounds in science, technology, engineering and math who are truly passionate about advancing student achievement in those topic areas," said Mary Rollins, vice president of Discovery Education. "We are positive that the candidates we choose will take the skills, contacts and resources we provide them during the program back to their classrooms across the country and use them to motivate their students to excel in STEM learning.”