Karyn Rees is spending her first summer in the STEM Research Program working at SUNY Polytechnic Institute studying nano microscopes.
Since 2014, Questar III’s Summer STEM Research Institute has placed local secondary school STEM teachers in local businesses, colleges/universities and research facilities to get hands-on experience in areas related to the courses they teach – providing their students a more authentic education and better preparing them for the world they will encounter after graduation.
Karyn Rees teaches Grade 11 & 12 Regents Physics at Averill Park High School. She is spending the summer working at SUNY Polytechnic Institute studying nanomicroscopes. Read on to learn about her work and how she expects this experience to benefit her students.
Briefly describe your research to someone without a STEM background.
Learning about nano microscopes and what they can see and do. I will be using what I learn to develop projects and unit plans to get students to understand the uses of the microscopes and how what they are learning can be applied in the areas of Nano scale circuit research.
What made you want to apply for the Summer STEM program?
I wanted to expand what I know about the applications of physics so I could bring more rich, diverse, and relatable experiences to students in my classroom.
How do you see this program impacting your instruction and benefiting your students?
My students will benefit by being able to make connections to the world of business and research. They will be able to connect the things we learn to real life.
What are you most looking forward to through the program, or what has been the most beneficial experience for you so far?
I have learned so much about the integrated circuit industry and how the chips are improved. I have learned that smaller isn’t always better in the world of computer chips. I am looking forward to making connections with SUNY Poly professors and having a connection with their institution in the future.