May 16, 2024 | Austin, Minn. — On Wednesday evening, May 15, the next generation of young scientists and innovators celebrated a year of achievement and exploration as the Young Scientist Program at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, came to a close with an end-of-year celebration event. At the event, students gave presentations on what they learned, received certificates for completing the program, and were able to take home their personalized lab coats embroidered with their names.
The Young Scientist Program, which just completed its second year, is offered to Austin Public School students in grades 6–8. Over the course of the school year, students made monthly visits to The Hormel Institute, where they received mentorship from a diverse group of world-class scientists and participated in hands-on and observational activities to learn about biomedical research topics.
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Ultimately, the program aims to create a student-to-scientist pipeline that cultivates the next generation of innovators and research leaders.
Sixth-grade students participated in activities with a curriculum developed by a single scientist, while seventh- and eighth-grade students rotated among six labs led by different scientists with each visit. Activities included making liquid nitrogen ice cream, constructing solar-powered cars, isolating RNA from human lung cells, studying mammary tissue to learn about breast cancer risk markers, and much more.
At the event, student after student expressed their delight with their experiences and their desire to continue with the program in following years.
“I thought it was fun just doing the experiments and doing it with other people, too,” said Gabe Tschida.
“It was really fun. I liked the experience,” said Valerie Babicheva.
“I really like scientist stuff, so I wanted to experience [the program] to see if I wanted to be a scientist in the future,” said Bella Bai. “You got to see a real scientist and let them teach you how to work with certain instruments and stuff. … Not only looking it up on the internet…”
“It was just a fun year last year so I wanted to do it again, but this time, there were different and more activities to do,” said returning student Wyatt Gardner.
The partnership between Austin Public Schools and The Hormel Institute is one that’s been described as offering “tremendous value” to students by both IJ Holton Intermediate and Ellis Middle School Principal Dewey Schara and Austin Public Schools Superintendent Joey Page.
The program offers a “tremendous value… it’s a connection with the community, and a connection with a premier cancer research facility in the country. And our students are getting to engage in this and see what science at the highest level looks and feels like,” said Schara. “It’s tangible to them. … That is an opportunity you just can’t find anywhere else.”
“It’s a tremendous value,” added Page. “We have a mission in the Austin Public Schools to inspire, empower, and accelerate. And I think the work that’s done here at the Institute aligns perfectly with that mission. … To explore, look at the relevance, rigor, and relationships between science, learning, and education that we provide in the Austin Public Schools to have this kind of partnership is really extraordinary, and we’re really thankful.”
The Young Scientist Program has been made possible thanks to a generous donation made by Paul and Joanne Worlein and the establishment of The Hormel Institute’s Education Fund.
Applications for this second year of the program had nearly tripled, and continued growth is on the horizon. Next school year, thanks to support from the FutureForward Impact Grant from Southeast Service Cooperative, the Young Scientist Program will expand further to include a hybrid program option for the Kasson-Mantorville School District. Over the long term, the Hormel Institute’s Community Outreach and Education Department hopes to include more school districts and a wider range of student age groups to create a true, Minnesota-based student-to-scientist pipeline.
Current students offered advice for prospective students thinking about applying to join future Young Scientist Program sessions.
“I’d tell them it’s a wonderful program, and they should definitely sign up, because you get to meet nice people and do fun things,” said Tschida.
“I would say just go for it, because it’s really fun … and if you want to do it again next year, there will be even more fun things to try out,” said Babicheva.