Experimenta con PREM: Outcomes and Best Practices from a Two-Decade Materials Research Summer Program for Underrepresented High School Students

A long-standing partnership between the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) and the University of Pennsylvania (PENN) <i>Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter</i> aims at diversifying the materials research community by identifying and guiding students through a pathway from high school (and K-8) to STEM undergraduate programs, and then onto graduate school. The program is supported by the National Science Foundation <i>Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials</i> (PREM) program. The UPR-PENN PREM program targets women and students from disadvantaged backgrounds, such as low-income families, first-generation college students, and those living in geographically isolated areas in Puerto Rico, where the student population is approximately 99% Hispanic.<br/>The <i>Experimenta con PREM</i> (ECP) summer program for high school (HS) students is a highlight of the UPR-PENN PREM. Since 2005, this two-week research experience has attracted talented students to materials research. The program started at the Humacao campus of UPR and extended to the Cayey campus in 2016. To date, approximately 400 students (68% women), from 34 towns and 59 schools in Puerto Rico have taken part in ECP. All of them graduated from high school, with 78% pursuing STEM fields.<br/>ECP aims to foster scientific literacy and inquiry skills among students and inspire them to pursue research-oriented careers. The experience is expected to be like what they would face in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), from the application process to presenting their findings. The program introduces materials science as a field that welcomes diverse interests and skills, such as materials characterization, devices, soft matter, crystals, and experimental and theoretical-computational methods. Nine UPR faculty mentors create laboratory experiences that are closely aligned with their own PREM research and that incorporate, within the time constraints, the relevant aspects of conducting research such as literature review, data collection and analysis, report, and final oral presentation. In the laboratories, HS students work in groups of up to 4 members with constant guidance from the faculty researcher and undergraduate PREM students.<br/>Before the research experiences, the students participate in a series of workshops that help them develop soft skills that are essential for scientific research, such as diversity awareness, public communication, and laboratory safety. Additional training includes hands-on workshops on scientific writing, programming, and spreadsheet skills. The PENN partners actively contribute to the learning experience. Graduate students, post-docs and faculty members from PENN give talks, workshops and interact with the students on various topics related to materials science.<br/>This presentation will cover the goals, components, and achievements of ECP, along with the challenges and lessons learned. We will discuss some of the best practices that emerged from our experience and how they can inform future initiatives in science education.