According to a 2015 NSF report, only 15% of recent STEM PhD earners were African Americans or Hispanics, and only 4% were women.1 Acknowledging this deficiency, we proposed a program to engage the interests of young women and URMs in science and prepare them for successful careers. The program called Operation ICB (I Can Be) immerses rising Mississippi high school seniors into the laboratory setting via lectures in fundamental principles of chemistry and research in supramolecular chemistry. Approved by the university and financially supported by NSF, scholars are not only exposed to the lab but offered an early stage collegiate experience via college preparatory packets and networking events.
Collaborators: Dr. Elizabeth Morgan at Mississippi School of Math and Science
1 (NSF), U. N. S. F. Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering - NCSES - US National Science Foundation (NSF). http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2015/nsf15311/ (accessed May 23).
Recent Participants
Summer 2019 Participants
Alisha Burch
Hometown: Greenwood, MS
Hobbies: Singing and dancing
Violet Jira
Hometown: Cleveland, MS
Hobbies: Volleyball and reading
Summer 2018 Participants
Taniya Bland
Hometown: Terry, MS
Hobbies: Competitive games
Samantha Anderson
Hometown: Terry, MS
Hobbies: Singing, Graphic Design, Reading, Tennis
Mia Riddley
Hometown: Byram, MS
Hobbies: Playing soccer and drawing
Summer 2017 Participants
Shuchi Patel
Hometown: Hazelhurst, MSHobbies: Reading, Music
Chemistry Inspiration: Mrs. Kaye Truitt
Ta'Kiya Moore
Hometown: Tchula, MSHobbies: Dancing, Reading, Watching Grey's Anatomy
Chemistry Inspiration: Mrs. Kaye Truitt
Tia Wilson
High School Mentee, Summer 2016
Hometown: Greenwood, MS
Hobbies: Science
Chemistry Inspiration: Scientist!
Current STEM Programs: Accepted into University of Southern Mississippi and University of Mississippi
Ayana Love
High School Mentee, Summer 2015
Hometown: Tchula, MS
Hobbies: Basketball, Singing
Chemistry Inspiration: My dream job is to be a CSI. I realized how much I like chemistry when I started to teach and tutor other students at my school!
Current STEM Programs: Student at University of Southern Mississippi