STEM Research Institute

How does the program work? 

In addition to the hands-on workplace experiences and engagement with STEM professionals, educators dedicate 1 day each week during the summer to share their experiences with SRI colleagues and collaborate to create lesson plans for their classrooms. The benefits are two-fold: 

  • Upon completion of the program, teachers have shared how these workplace experiences have exponentially increased their understanding of the modern STEM workplace and have impacted their classrooms in multiple ways, including changes in instructional practices, increased student engagement and higher levels of academic achievement. 
  • Students are introduced to curriculum that are based on real world, real time STEM workplace applications, learning how concepts in the classroom are relevant to research and STEM work resulting in increased student interest in STEM college and career pathways 

Since its inception, the program has partnered with and/or received support from a variety of recognizable institutions including NYS Wadsworth Laboratories, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, SUNY Poly and Albany College of Pharmacy as well as Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, IBM, Global Foundries, National Grid, the Center for Economic Growth, General Electric and Vicarious Visions. 

And the program benefits go beyond these educators and their classrooms as the lesson plans created through these experiences are presented at education conferences statewide and around the country. 

These lesson plans, available here, are designed to be standards-based, real world applicable STEM topics and use skills aligned to STEM college and career preparatory. They are divided into the 4 STEM categories: science, mathematics, technology and engineering. Some of them easily overlap as many STEM activities do and teachers are encouraged to download them and be used as they best fit into specific classrooms. If you’re a STEM educator looking for ideas to introduce new lessons into your curriculum, feel free to take these lessons and either introduce as is or modify for your students.  

Questar III is proud to offer this as a resource to educators throughout the Capital Region-and beyond! 

Questar III’s STEM Research Institute offers educators professional development

This past summer, Questar III’s STEM Research Institute celebrated its tenth year offering educators from around the Capital Region rewarding summer professional development experiences.

Local teacher helping teachers statewide through STEM Research Institute

Crystal Perno is partnering with the New York State Mesonet at UAlbany to build a series of educational tools as part of the Questar III BOCES STEM Research Institute. 

NYSSBA Recognizes Questar III for Video Gaming Program for Teachers

The New York State Schools Boards Association (NYSSBA) recently honored Questar III BOCES with the association’s Champions of Change award.

Teachers study video game development

Vicarious Visions hosted six teachers from three districts, and insights gained from the internship will be used to develop a course in video game development.

Summer STEM Q&A – Sam Ziebel, North Colonie CSD

In his second year in the program, Sam Ziebel is working at NYS DOH Wadsworth lab studying the effects of nitrous acid on the environment.

Summer STEM Q&A – Micaela Ethier

Ethier teaches high school geometry at Shenendehowa CSD. She is spending her summer working at National Grid in our Summer STEM Research Institute.

Summer STEM Q&A – Nathan Porter

Nathan Porter teaches Physics and Computer Science at Maple Hill High School in Schodack and he is part of our first cohort of teachers working with Vicarious Visions.

Summer STEM Q&A: Valerie Gordon, East Greenbush CSD

East Greenbush CSD Art Teacher Valerie Gordon is working with Vicarious Visions this summer through our Summer STEM Research Institute.

Summer STEM Q&A: Karyn Rees, Averill Park CSD

Karyn Rees is spending her first summer in the STEM Research Program working at SUNY Polytechnic Institute studying nano microscopes.

Summer STEM Q&A: Dawn Wetmore, Berlin CSD

In her first year in the Summer STEM Research Institute, Dawn Wetmore of Berlin CSD is researching and programming autonomous fuel cell dispensaries.

2022 Participants:
Len Bacon, Science, Schodack CSD
RPI Environmental Science
Judith Selig, Science, Ballston Spa CSD
RPI Environmental Science
Matt Duff, Technology, Averill Park
Tech Valley Game Space
Jennifer Starr, Chemistry, Green Island
Norlite
Crystal Perno, Science, Shenendehowa CSD
UAlbany/NY Mesonet
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