Integral to its mission is Nebraska EPSCoR's commitment to advancing workforce development through outreach and education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Nebraska EPSCoR has developed several programs that nurture the pipeline of STEM students through middle school, high school, undergraduate and graduate school: summer science camps, internships, in-class advanced molecular biology units, and travel assistance to the Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences State Science Fair. Click a link below to jump to a section of interest.

For Middle School Students:
Young Nebraska Scientists Summer Science Camps

For High School Students:
Young Nebraska Scientists Summer Research Experience
Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences Travel Grant
Molecular Biology for Secondary Classrooms

For college and graduate students:
Nebraska Engineering, Science and Technology Internship Program

Young Nebraska Scientists Summer Science Camps
The Young Nebraska Scientist (YNS) program, developed by Nebraska EPSCoR, is designed to provide students from across the state with opportunities to learn science through doing science and to explore the intersection of science, technology and society. The aim is to nurture a robust pipeline of Nebraska students whose engagement with the STEM fields leads to higher education and STEM careers.

Since 2008, Nebraska EPSCoR has offered one and two-week summer science camps for middle school and high school students on topics that relate to the grand challenges faced by our society: energy production, water, and near space exploration. New topics for future camps are in development. More information can be found on the YNS website.

Young Nebraska Scientists Summer Research Experience
Nebraska EPSCoR also facilitates the Young Nebraska Scientist High School Summer Research Experience for 11th and 12th grade students. Interested students apply for a full-time, paid position lasting 8 to 10 weeks during the summer and are matched based on ability and interest with participating faculty research teams at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln or University of Nebraska at Omaha. Several past participants of the YNS summer science camps have become YNS Summer Researchers. More information can be found on the YNS website.

Nebraska Junior Academy of Science Travel Grants
In order to increase the exposure of high school teachers and students to scientific research, and build a stronger community of science in Nebraska, Nebraska EPSCoR offers a limited number of travel grants to attend the 2010 Nebraska Junior Academy of Science (NJAS) state science competition at the Nebraska Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting. The meeting takes place every year in April.

Participation of middle and high school students in scientific research activities increases their interest in pursuing higher education and careers in STEM disciplines. The NJAS state competition provides an opportunity to showcase middle and high school science research projects taking place across the state. Senior high and junior high competitions are available for top regional qualifiers.

Nebraska EPSCoR offers the NAS travel grant program to expose high school faculty and students to high school research projects being conducted in Nebraska. Attendance at the meeting will also provide participants with the opportunity to network with experienced peers and develop plans for offering research experiences for students at their schools, therefore increasing the number of high school students participating in science research across the state. The program will be funded by a NSF infrastructure grant to Nebraska EPSCoR. Secondary science teachers with students from underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

Calls for applications will be posted on our Requests for Proposal webpage. For more information about the meeting and science fair, see the Nebraska Academy of Sciences website and the Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences website.

Molecular Biology for Secondary Classrooms (MBSC)
The MBSC program provides equipment, materials, and instructional support for three advanced molecular biology based labs for use in Nebraska's secondary classrooms. MBSC reaches more than 30 Nebraska secondary teachers and more than 1,000 ethnically, geographically, and socio-economically diverse Nebraska secondary students each year. More information can be found on the MBSC website.

Nebraska Engineering, Science and Technology Internship Program (NESTIP)
In order to facilitate substantive undergraduate and graduate experience in private industry in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (the STEM fields), Nebraska EPSCoR developed the NESTIP program in 2001. Nebraska EPSCoR shares the cost of student internships at private companies for up to 12 months, paying for up to 50% of the student's salary and related FICA taxes but not more than $5,000 in a 6-month period. Applications are accepted at any time and are selected on a competitive basis as funds for the program are available. For more detailed program information, please go here.