Exploration in Science: A Research Awareness Program (ESRAP)

Explorations in Science: A Research Awareness Program (ESRAP) is a program established to provide high school students with first hand knowledge of the research that is conducted in various laboratories on the UMB campus and to acquaint them with mentoring and research opportunities on our campus.

We propose to expand the program to high schools in Baltimore City and the surrounding counties. Approximately once a month, graduate students and/or postdoctoral fellows in STEM disciplines will present their research with attention paid to scientific inquiry (especially research process, methodology and analysis), current results and conclusions. At the end of this experience, the high school students will have gained a greater awareness and appreciation of scientific investigation as well as a significant amount of knowledge regarding procedures, concepts and select areas of STEM research. The Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, located in Baltimore, has already agreed to host the program and expose their students to the scientific content presented by the graduate students and postdoctoral fellows from the University of Maryland campuses.

Method of Presentation

Graduate students (at least in Y3) or postdoctoral fellows (at least in Y2) will be invited to make a 45-minute presentation to 9th-12th graders. Approximately 20-60 students are expected at the two sessions presented each day (students will not attend both sessions). It is possible for a speaker to present the same talk twice or different speakers can be arranged each day.