STEM Research Institute
In 2014, Questar III introduced the STEM Research Institute (SRI) – modeled after a successful Columbia University science teacher professional development program. SRI provides an opportunity for secondary school teachers of science, mathematics, engineering or technology to work for two summers under the mentorship of researchers or STEM industry professionals, participating in authentic scientific research or working in STEM businesses related to the content they teach.
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 and are available as well on Questar III’s website for colleagues to modify or introduce as is in their classrooms.
Would you like to learn more about this innovative STEM program? Please contact Jane King (jane.king@questar.org) or Jim Church (james.church@questar.org) for more information.
2020 Participants:
| Caitlin Colwell (2nd year) English, Schodack CSD Vicarious Visions |
Jason Defrias (2nd year) English, East Greenbush CSD Vicarious Visions |
| Matt Duff (2nd year) Technology, Averill Park CSD Vicarious Visions |
Valerie Gordon (2nd year) Art, East Greenbush CSD Vicarious Visions |
| Christopher McDermith (2nd year), Technology, Schodack CSD Vicarious Visions |
Nate Porter (4th year) Technology, Coding, Physics, Schodack CSD Vicarious Visions |
| Micaela Ethier (2nd year) Math, Shenendehowa CSD National Grid |
Karyn Rees (2nd year) Physics, Averill Park CSD SUNY Polytechnic Institute |
| Dawn Wetmore (2nd year) Technology, Berlin CSD Plug Power |
Crystal Perno (1st year) Science, Shenendehowa CSD NYMesonet |
| Shannon LaChance (1st year) STEM, Catskill CSD GlaxoSmithKline |
Steve Schultz (1st year) Technology, Catskill CSD John W Danforth Co. |
Read more about why Questar III has implemented this program here.