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Program Overview
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Looking to shape a strong future Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce, the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center's (ECBC)'s outreach program offers a wide array of educational outreach activities. They are designed to engage the Center's scientists and engineers (S&E)s in sharing the exciting and rewarding nature of their careers with kindergarten through college students and their educators. In an effort to inspire students to pursue STEM career pathways, ECBC supports local STEM initiatives and programs sponsored by the Army and the Department of Defense. As advisors, guest-speakers, mentors, project judges and scientists in the classroom, S&Es invigorate STEM education within and beyond their local community.
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Community and Educational Outreach Program Manager:
Mary Doak
mary.doak@us.army.mil
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Communications Officer:
Don Kennedy
don.kennedy1@us.army.mil
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Community Snapshot
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As a research development and engineering center (RDEC) under the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM), ECBC is located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, on the Chesapeake Bay in Harford County, Maryland. Its Outreach Program has established formal partnership in educational agreements with Harford and Cecil Counties to effectively address its communities' educational needs with real-world STEM experiences. Harford County Public Schools is comprised of 33 elementary schools, 10 middle schools and 11 high schools as well as 4 magnet programs. Cecil County Public Schools consists of 17 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, 5 high schools and 2 special training schools.
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Outreach Activities
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Exhibiting at career fairs and expos, ECBC's outreach program and practicing scientists and engineers (S&Es) introduce exciting career opportunities, showcase some of the center's cutting-edge research and engineering technologies, and engage students in real-world learning activities.
Examples:
- Harford County's Futures 11 (Career Expo for 11th grade students in Harford County's magnet programs)
- Bel Air High School's "Careers in Your Backyard at APG"
- Cecil County STEM Rally (High School students in Cecil County's STEM Academy)
- Project DREAM Work's Career Expo at Edgewood Middle School
- Aberdeen Middle School Career Fair
- Team America Rocketry Challenge (Middle and high school students)(http://www.rocketcontest.org/)
ECBC subject matter experts (SMEs) assist school administrators, counselors, and teachers to shape K-12 curricula and programs based on the educational needs of the private and government sectors by transferring their technical knowledge and expertise.
Examples:
- Joppatowne High School's Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Program (http://www.hcps.org/hsep/)
- Bel Air High School's Biomedical Sciences Program
- Aberdeen High School's Science and Math Academy Curriculum
- Cecil County Project Lead the Way Biomedical Sciences and Pre-Engineering
- Cecil County Public Schools STEM Academy Research & Design Course (10th grade)
The center's S&Es serve as guest speakers and present educational briefings to educate students about the relevance and excitement of STEM in the real world and to make science and engineering more compelling for them.
Examples:
- Havre de Grace Middle School's Intervention and Enrichment Program
- Harford County's Technology Needs Teens (8th grade Middle School students)
- NASA Controller Sy Liebergot presentation (students from seven high schools and one middle school in Harford County)
- Engineering speaker at Edgewood Middle School
The Center's S&Es help students academically succeed, build relationships and understand the real-world application of STEM in assignments such as senior capstone projects.
Examples:
- A.M. Academic Club at Edgewood Middle School
- Aberdeen Middle School
- Aberdeen High School's Science and Math Academy
- Deerfield Elementary School
- Ram Hour Academic Club at Edgewood High School
- Maryland's Freestate ChalleNGe Academy (16 to 18 year-old at-risk adolescents)
(http://www.ngycp.org/site/state/md/)
- Joppatowne HSEP Program (http://www.hcps.org/hsep/)
- Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship students (http://smart.asee.org/)
As project and virtual judges in STEM fairs and competitions, conducted by local school districts, the Army, and DoD, S&Es help evaluate students' STEM projects and ensure a high standard of current and future science and engineering solutions.
Examples:
- eCYBERMISSION Competition (6th through 9th grade) (https://www.ecybermission.com/)
- Regional and National Junior Science and Humanities Symposia (9th through 12th grade)
- FIRST Lego League (9 to 16 year olds) (http://www.firstlegoleague.org/)
- Redeemer Classical Christian School in Baltimore County (Pre-K through 12th grade college preparatory program )
ECBC's practicing S&Es engage students in problem-solving and hands-on STEM experiences in the classroom to reinforce K-12 STEM concepts and demonstrate their real-world applications.
Examples:
- CSI: Edgewood at eCYBERMISSION's Army Enrichment Day (6th through 9th grade) (https://www.ecybermission.com/)
- CSI: Joppatowne for Joppatowne High School's Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Program students.
- Engineering is Elementary at North Harford Elementary School
- The Magic of Science at Edgewood and Aberdeen Middle School
ECBC's Community and Educational Outreach Program delivers STEM learning modules into classrooms to supplement traditional curricula with interactive and inquiry-based learning experiences.
Examples:
When providing summer-camp support for public schools and STEM-focused programs, ECBC offers a combination of educational outreach initiatives such as tours of ECBC laboratories and a Scientist-in-the-Classroom activity or guest lecturing.
Examples:
The Center's S&Es offer teachers professional development opportunities through demonstrations of how they apply science and math concepts at one of the nation's premier chemical and biological defense laboratories. Furthermore, they provide hands-on STEM experiences in ECBC's state-of-the-art facilities, giving teachers ideas to take back to the classroom.
Examples:
- Cecil County Public Schools science teachers
- Cecil County Public Schools math teachers - Math Quest
- Harford County Public Schools science teachers
- Harford County Public Schools biology teachers and physical science teachers
In visiting ECBC laboratories, students experience the real world of practicing S&Es, discover exciting career opportunities, and explore a variety of leading-edge research and engineering technologies.
Examples:
- Joppatowne High School's HSEP Program
- Edgewood Middle School A.M. Academic Club
- Harford Technical High School
- Aberdeen Middle School
- Aberdeen High School's Science and Math Academy
- Cecil County STEM Academy (High school students)
- Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (for 9th through 12th grade students) (http://www.jshs.org/)
- University of Maryland Young Scholars
SEAP is a DoD-sponsored summer apprentice program that provides students with invaluable experience and exposure to the world of scientific research. The program offers apprenticeships to high school students interested in science and engineering. The students are assigned to a participating laboratory to pursue scientific experiences with a scientist or engineer who serves as mentor to the apprentice for eight continuous weeks. Read more at: http://www.usaeop.com/programs/SEAP/index.htm
Student Research Participation Program
The program is intended to enhance the students' educational development by providing practical research experiences closely related to their academic pursuits .The program focus is in the sciences, i.e. biology and chemistry as well as environmental sciences. Mentors may provide tuition assistance for participant's continuing education, but are not required to do so. Participants are eligible to receive monetary awards. Full-time and part-time appointments are available. This program is open to high school juniors and seniors; undergraduate; and graduate students. Read more at: http://orise.orau.gov/
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Partners
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Partners
ECBC's outreach program closely collaborates with the local school districts, boards, and administrators, which has resulted in formal partnerships in education with the Harford County Board of Education and Cecil County Public Schools. Its partnerships enable the center to more effectively target students' and educators' needs with customized STEM engagements. As a trusted partner in education, ECBC continues to significantly impact the STEM arena in its local communities.
Harford County Public Schools
Cecil County Public Schools
Harford Community College
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Photos
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View images from our most recent event held. (Click thumbnails to view)
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