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The Rochester Section of the American Chemical Society is an active participant in Project SEED: Summer Education Experience for the Disadvantaged. Project SEED places economically disadvantaged high school students in academic, industrial, and government research laboratories for eight-to-ten weeks during the summer to learn what it's like to work as part of a team doing hands-on research. To learn more about the program and how to participate, follow the links below.
How are Institutions Selected to Sponsor a SEED Student?
How Successful is Project SEED?
Who Do I Contact for More Information?
What is Project SEED?
Project SEED is the American Chemical Society's (ACS) social action program that places economically disadvantaged high school students in academic, industrial, and government research laboratories for eight-to-ten weeks during the summer to learn what it's like to work as part of a team doing hands-on research. Each student does a chemical research project under the direct supervision of a scientist/mentor (called a preceptor) and receives an educational award. During the summer of 1996, Summer I students (first year students) received $1,500 and Summer II students (students who returned for a second year) received $2,000 with an additional travel grant of up to $100 to attend a scientific meeting.
The student educational awards are provided entirely by contributions from corporations, foundations, ACS local sections, and individual ACS members.
How Are Institutions Selected to Sponsor a SEED Student?
Application packets are sent in December to all two- and four-year colleges, ACS local section chairs, and institutions who participated the previous year. Interested institutions apply to the ACS Committee on Project SEED for funding at the beginning of each calendar year. Award monies cover student educational awards. Supplies, materials, and any overhead expenses are provided by the participating institutions. Priority for funding is given to those institutions with matching or supplemental funds for student awards from local sources or ACS local sections.
How Are Students Selected?
The funded institutions recruit their own students to participate in the program. The preceptor at the institution contacts local high schools and develops a method for Summer I student selection. Summer II students are selected based upon the recommendation of their former SEED preceptor. Summer I students should be entering their junior or senior year in high school in September. Summer II students may be entering their senior year in high school in September or be a recent high school graduate; no student who has matriculated in college is eligible. The student must be interested in science and must have completed a course in chemistry.
How Successful is Project SEED?
Nationally, since its inception in 1968, the Project SEED Summer I program has made it possible for more than 4,500 talented high school students to conduct research in over 350 chemistry laboratories. Because of the enthusiasm and excitement of Project SEED participants, ACS expanded the program in 1992 to include a second summer of research (Summer II). This program allows former SEED students to return for an additional summer of research. SEED Summer II is made possible through a generous grant from the Bader family. The Bayer Corporation, Eli Lilly and Company, and Mettler Toledo Inc. have also recognized the success of the Project SEED program and have provided funding to the American Chemical Society for college scholarships to former SEED participants. Scholarships for SEED students are also available at Indiana University, John Carroll University, and Miami University of Ohio.
Who Do I Contact for More Information?
To learn more about project SEED in Rochester, please contact Lew Allen (address information below). For further information about Project SEED at the national level, see the American Chemical Society's Project SEED Page.
| Dr. Lewis Allen 34 Circle Wood Drive Rochester, NY 14615-2172 Phone: (585) 586-9983 lallen10@rochester.rr.com
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