UROP Project
Neighborhood STEM Fair Project - connecting low-income community with free STEM enrichment programs
Education, Community Outreach, STEM education, Stem Education for All, Summer Camps
Research Mentor: Ilya Litvak,
Department, College, Affiliation: Magnet Lab, N/A
Contact Email: litvak@magnet.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Malathy Elumalai
Faculty Collaborators Email: melumalai@magnet.fsu.edu
Department, College, Affiliation: Magnet Lab, N/A
Contact Email: litvak@magnet.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators: Malathy Elumalai
Faculty Collaborators Email: melumalai@magnet.fsu.edu
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors. Majors form the following programs are especially encouraged to apply:
1. Physical sciences and Engineering
Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Chemical Science, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computational Biology, Computational Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Industrial Engineering, Information Technology, Interdisciplinary Design, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Meteorology, Neuroscience, Physical Science, Physics, Statistics
2. Education and Social Sciences:
Elementary Education, Environment and Society, Exercise Physiology, Food and Nutrition, Human Development and Family Science, Interdiscplinary Social Science, Psychology, Public Health, Social Science Education, Sociology, Special Education, STEM Teaching
3. Business and marketing:
Business Administration, Communication and Digital Media Studies, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality Management, Marketing, Professional Communication
Project Location: 1800 E. Paul Dirac Dr.
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Dogwood, Live Oak; Innovation Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8-10, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors. Majors form the following programs are especially encouraged to apply:
1. Physical sciences and Engineering
Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Chemical Science, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computational Biology, Computational Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Industrial Engineering, Information Technology, Interdisciplinary Design, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Meteorology, Neuroscience, Physical Science, Physics, Statistics
2. Education and Social Sciences:
Elementary Education, Environment and Society, Exercise Physiology, Food and Nutrition, Human Development and Family Science, Interdiscplinary Social Science, Psychology, Public Health, Social Science Education, Sociology, Special Education, STEM Teaching
3. Business and marketing:
Business Administration, Communication and Digital Media Studies, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality Management, Marketing, Professional Communication
Project Location: 1800 E. Paul Dirac Dr.
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Dogwood, Live Oak; Innovation Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8-10, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
- Day: Tuesday, September 1
Start Time: 4:30
End Time: 5:00
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/95821391652 - Day: Wednesday, September 2
Start Time: 1:30
End Time: 2:00
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/92270367991
Project Description
The Neigborhood Camp Fair project aims to connect K-12 population from low-income areas of Tallahassee with free STEM education opportunities. Launched in 2018, the project has seen over 500 K-12 students attend our annual community events where public can find free or subsidized summer camp programs. 60-70% of attendees come from local Title I schools.Our role is to match existing resources with existing needs – which involves the serach for both. The most challenging – and interesting – part is to develop understanding of the gap between availability and accessibility of what we can offer. We continue expanding our outreach capabilities.
The intern will join our small team which organizes Neighborhood Camp Fair events, STEM Nights, and other coordinates other STEM outreach activities. This project is operated in collaboration with the Tallahassee Scientific Society.
Research Tasks: 1. Propose, implement, and evaluate strategies to engage with target community
2. Develop strategy for collecting and analyzing feedback
3. Publicize the project and its benefits to local residents through social media, flyers, direct engagement, and other means
4. Publicize the project and its benefits to STEM program providers
5. Study the impact of the camp fairs on STEM awareness among K-12 students
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: 1. Organizational skills
2. Presentation skills
3. Written and oral communication skills including writing articles, emails, making phone calls, etc.
It may significantly benefit the project if the applicant had exposure to challenges faced by target communities through their work- or volunteer-related, or personal experience.