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Pre-College Summer programs
The pre-college program provides talented high school students with the opportunity to enroll in about 300 courses ranging from Art to Zoology. About one third of these courses are in STEM disciplines. The courses meet daily for 3 hours and are one to three weeks in length. Diverse students from all around the USA as well as from abroad apply. The courses are taught by Brown faculty, adjuncts, and graduate students. While some of these pre-college courses are shortened versions of 100 level introductory undergraduate courses offered at Brown, others are on more unique topics. Although the courses are not for credit, all involve tests, exams and/or papers. Instructors evaluate student performance via a course performance report indicating their strengths and successes as well as weaknesses and areas in which they need to direct more attention. The program exposes high school students to the opportunity of an independent living situation where they can interact like-minded peers and learn to be self sufficient. Overall the objective is to prepare high school students for the intellectual, social, and personal demands that they will encounter as first year undergraduate students studying at a selective college or university.
Brain Week Rhode Island (BWRI) - Brain Awareness Week (BAW)
This is a global initiative to elevate the awareness of the scientific breakthroughs in the field of brain and nervous system research. The Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is held each year in March. At Brown, faculty and students conduct presentations and hands-on activities in local schools to engage students and teachers in fun activities about neuroscience at the annual Brain Week Rhode Island (BWRI).
Brown Science Prep
This is an initiative to show public high school students the excitement of science through lessons geared toward real world phenomena, applicable learning, hands-on demonstrations, and experimentation. The program is structured so that Brown undergraduates teach and mentor several students over the course of the semester to encourage the formation of strong bonds.
| Animal Adaptations | Evolutionary Adaptations |
| Animal Adaptations | Evolutionary Adaptations |
| Blood Splatter: The Point of Origin | -Forensic Science - |
| Brain and the Auditory System: An Introduction to Neuroscience | Neuroscience |
| Chemical Equilibrium | Chemistry |
| Chemical Forces | Chemistry |
| DNA Extraction and Analysis | Forensic Science |
| Electricity | Electricity |
| Fractals: Measuring fractal dimensionality | Fractals |
| Intro to Neuroscience | Neuroscience |
| Playing with Gravity | Gravity, Forces, Energy, Kinematics |
| Senses & Illusions | Illusions |
| The Duality of Light | Waves and the Particle/Wave Theory of Light |
| The Genetic Basis of Disease | Human Genetics |
| The Loop de Loops in our Body | Feedback Systems |
| The RNA World | Central Dogma/RNA |
| The Science Behind Ice Cream | Chemistry |
| Weather and Atmosphere | Earth Science |
Ladd Observatory
The Ladd Observatory is integrated into the Rhode Island Science curriculum, and is the site of frequent field trips by students from area schools. Over 3000 students, parents, and other visitors participate in its active public science program. Tours are given on clear Tuesday nights, as well as during the day. Attached to Ladd is the newly renovated Transit facility, the nation’s only publicly accessible transit observatory that allows visitors to see first-hand how time is measured through astronomical observation. It has provided open house and outreach activities almost continuously since its opening in 1891. It has served as the time setting/keeping station for Rhode Island, and during World War II was used to train Navy pilots in navigational techniques.
Learning Exchange Program
This is an after-school mathematics initiative aimed at helping middle school students get excited about learning mathematics and working with computers. The goals of Learning Exchange are to foster the development of real-world applications for mathematics skills, promote computer programming literacy, and engage students about mathematics and computers.
New Scientist Collective
NSP strives to increase the presence, performance and retention of students from groups who are underrepresented in STEM concentrations. NSP runs a variety of programs including Catalyst, a science pre-orientation program; PAL, a mentoring program for science students; and NSP Open Study, semi-structured group study time.
Outdoor Leadership Environmental Education Project (OLEEP)
In partnership with MET school, OLEEP facilitates the development of high school student leadership by connecting experiences in the wilderness and in the city. Through one-on-one mentoring, weekly workshops in the school and community, and camping, backpacking and ropes course trips, the program develops individual awareness and skills as well as a community in which Brown and MET students learn from each other.
Research Impact
Brown’s Research Impact is a state-of-the-art clearinghouse for all science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related broader impacts of research efforts at Brown. We promote science awareness by supporting Brown faculty and students who are developing STEM-related societal impacts programs. In collaboration with the Office of Vice President for Research, and the members of the Broader Impacts Committee, we facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations, collaborations between scientific and educational communities, and the development of interdisciplinary projects that draw upon concepts from multiple academic fields.
| Acids and Bases | Acid-Bases Chemistry |
Rhode Island Advocate Program
Rhode Island Robot Block Party
The Robot Block Party is a celebration of National Robotics Week held on the first or second weekend of April at the Pizzitola Center at Brown University. Organized by Rhode Island Students of the Future, a non-profit organization that engages kids in science, technology, engineering, and math through robotics, and the Humanity-Centered Robotics Initiative at Brown University, the Robot Block Party showcases how robots are used in education, research, work, and play.
School of Professional Studies Partnership Program
Science Cartoons (SciToons)
Science Conferences at K-12 Schools
Science Fridays
Science Olympiad
Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native American in Science (SACNAS) at Brown
Brown University's SACNAS Chapter (SACNAS at Brown University) was established in 2012 with a mission to foster success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) for all people at all levels of their career. They are actively engaged in helping college students strive for advanced degrees in STEM so they can enjoy careers in science and become future scientific leaders. In addition, SACNAS @ Brown provides students a platform to network, form collaborations, and serve their community in impactful ways.
Spira Engineering Camp
A free, four week summer camp for rising 10th and 11th grade womxn who are interested in engineering, coordinated by undergraduate students.
The Artemis Project
The Artemis Project is a five week summer program for girls entering 9th grade who are interested in science and technology. It is run by Brown undergraduate women, in connection with the Brown University Computer Science. Through exciting projects and activities, students are introduced to concrete computer science concepts in a positive and encouraging environment.
The Brown CubeSat Team
We are an undergraduate student group at Brown University with two projects under development. Our main focus is EQUiSat, a 1U CubeSat which has a payload of 4 LEDs to create a beacon visible from earth and LiFePo4 batteries that have never flown in space before. We are also working on a high altitude balloon. Our primary mission is to prove the accessibility of space to people of all backgrounds. To accomplish this we are approaching the project with a DIY attitude; if we can make a part ourselves, we do.
Given that BSE’s mission is to make space more accessible, we are reaching out to local schools, museums, after school programs, summer camps, and enthusiast groups to spread the word about EQUiSat and NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative! The BSE team has developed a set of activities to be implemented in after-school programs, summer camps, and museums. The activities focus on project-based learning and space-related topics. There are activities available for all age ranges, from elementary school to high school.
The Community Health Clerkship
The Community Health Clerkship is an applied learning experience (required course clerkship for 4th year medical students) designed to develop in Brown University medical students the knowledge, skills and perspectives of community health necessary to become a complete, competent physician. The clerkship fosters an informed sense of social responsibility and develop the skills needed to become strong patient advocates and community leaders. For the past few years, The MET School in Providence has served as a field experience placement. Past project topics include sexual harassment in schools, HIV/AIDS prevention, and school-based preventative health.
The Leadership Alliance
The Leadership Alliance is a national consortium of more than 30 leading research and teaching colleges and universities. We are united by a shared vision – to train, to mentor, and to inspire a diverse group of students from a wide range of cultural and academic backgrounds into competitive graduate training programs and professional research-based careers. Leadership Alliance programs foster intellectual and professional growth along every stage of the academic and career path. Learn more about the Leadership Alliance at: www.theleadershipalliance.org
- Academic Year Workshop Program: exposes students to research careers, opportunities for research experiences, and the core skills for forming collaborative learning groups.
- Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP): open to students in all disciplines enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities.
- Leadership Alliance National Symposium (LANS) Annual Research Conference: for undergraduates, presentations of their summer research, skill building and career enhancing workshops. For graduate students, postdocs, junior faculty and Leadership Alliance Doctoral Scholars, further mentoring and professional development.
The Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning
The Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning offers:
- Support for Research & Assessment – educational components of grants, program evaluations, curricular assessment, scholarship on teaching and learning
- Programs on Teaching for Faculty, Graduate Students and Postdocs – orientations, certificate programs, workshops, and lectures
- Support for Undergraduates as Teachers: Writing Fellows, Academic Tutoring, and orientations
- Confidential Consulting Services – course and syllabus consultations, classroom observations, writing and ELL
- Teaching and Learning Resources – publications and online resources addressing a wide range of topics, including inclusive teaching
- Community – programs and initiatives that bring together faculty, graduate students, postdocs, and undergraduates from across the disciplines
The Swearer Center
The Swearer Center connects students, faculty and community partners through community engagement, engaged scholarship and social innovation--in STEM and other areas.
Community Engagement - Community Corps facilitates opportunities for students to engage directly with local organizations, including several STEM-focused volunteer programs with local partners; BrownEngage is a platform for students, community organizations, and faculty to connect around specific opportunities, projects, interests, and causes
Undergraduate Student Fellowships - a variety of summer and academic year programs, including the Royce Fellowship supporting student research projects
Undergraduate Academic Programs - the Engaged Scholars Program enables students in participating concentrations (including Computer Science, Engineering, and Education) to design courses of study and action as part of their concentration requirements
Graduate Student Fellowships - opportunities for graduate students to contribute to the Swearer Center’s research and programs
Faculty Fellowships - opportunities for faculty to contribute to the academic rigor, quality and leadership of Swearer programs and/or the development of new programs
Support for Engaged Teaching and Research - including learning communities for faculty and others in instructional roles (including one on STEM engagement with K-12 education), annual awards, and mini-grants for community-engaged courses
Consulting Services - Individual and group consultations regarding any aspect of engaged teaching and research, including community partnerships, publishing, Brown’s Community-Based Learning and Research course designation, and assessment
Newsletters - news, opportunities, and events for faculty, students, and our broader community
The Voss Environmental Fellows Program
This is a different kind of independent research experience, introducing undergraduate researchers to the dynamic interface between environmental scholarship, policy, and practice. Student-faculty-practitioner teams develop research projects to meet shared objectives – directing scientific discovery into channels that will inform current and future management choices.
University Library
The University Library can provide you with support for disseminating and publishing your Broader Impacts materials. The Library manages the Brown Digital Repository (BDR) as an online archive for sharing your publications, research data, and other types of digital scholarship with other researchers and the public. The BDR is also a great place to store supplementary files and to obtain a digital object identifier (DOI) for citing your files in a publication. Visit the BDR at https://repository.library.brown.edu. Contact Andrew Creamer [email protected] for more information.
Women in Science and Engineering(WiSE)
Welcome to the STEM Outreach Resource (SOURCE) database. You can use this screen to locate programs and resources that you may be interested in. Click on one or more STEM areas at right to find programs associated with each.
