The National Museum of Health and Medicine continues its pledge of working to develop tomorrow’s future innovators as it hosts its first “GEMS@NMHM” program for middle school students the summer of 2015.
GEMS, which stands for Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science, was introduced in 2006 by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and is offered at various Army Laboratory locations throughout the country. The program is an extracurricular Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education program that enables youth to experience science in a hands-on, inquiry-based setting during the summer. Students who are selected and successfully complete the program qualify for an educational stipend ($100 per week).
The “GEMS@NMHM” program will introduce students to the lines of scientific evidence critical to the military identification of human remains. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in a mock case study where they will use different scientific methods and forensic techniques to identify the remains of an unidentified American Service Member.
The program aims at nurturing interest and excitement in STEM and to educate participants about careers in the STEM fields with a particular focus on STEM careers in the Army and Department of Defense.
The “GEMS@NMHM” program utilizes near-peer mentors (college students in STEM fields) and resource teachers (licensed K-12 teachers) to provide instruction and mentorship to program participants. Students will examine skeletal remains from the NMHM teaching collection and interact with professionals involved in the process of human identification. Additional lab activities will also include creating a biological profile of an individual, recovering material evidence during an archaeology exercise and extracting DNA from a strawberry.
“We are excited to bring the NMHM’s unique collections and STEM knowledge to the GEMS program. I think the student interns will gain new insights into STEM fields and careers through our program,” said Gwen Nelmes, tour program manager at the NMHM.
Andrea Schierkolk, public programs manager at the NMHM, commented that she is proud to support Army efforts to “build the bench” with a competent and ready future work force.
“GEMS@NMHM” will be offered during the following weeks:
• July 6-10, 2015: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• July 13-17, 2015: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• July 20-24, 2015: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• July 27-31, 2015: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
To submit an application to participate as a resource teacher, near-peer mentor or student intern, call (301) 319-3312.