SouthernCaliforniaAcademyofSciences

900ExpositionBlvdLosAngeles,CA90007

scas.nhm@gmail.comscas.nhm.org

SupportingscientistsandstudentsinSouthernCaliforniasince1891

All contributions to the Academy are fully tax deductible as allowed by law.

Southern California Academy of Sciences is a Federally-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

March16,2019DearScienceCoordinators,ScienceTeachers,andPrincipals,OnbehalfoftheSouthernCaliforniaAcademyofSciences,IampleasedtoannouncetheResearchTrainingProgram (RTP) for the2019-2020 academicyear. Thisprogram isdesigned forhighlymotivatedhighschoolsciencestudentswhohaveastronginterestinpursuingacareerinscience.Thisexcitingprogramwasinitiatedin1980toprovidehighschoolstudentswiththeopportunitytocarry out a research project under the mentorship of a professional working scientist. Thisexperienceexposesstudentstotherigorsofactualscientificresearch–throughexperimentation,dataanalysis,scientificwriting,andtheartofconveyingtheirfindingstoanaudienceoftheirpeers.Theproject culminateswith the submissionof a final scientificmanuscript-stylepaper, authoredundertheguidanceoftheirmentor,withthefindingstobepresentedbythestudentattheannualmeetingoftheSouthernCaliforniaAcademyofSciences. Attheannualmeeting,thestudentswillinteractwithotherprofessionalresearchersandhavetheirworkevaluatedon itsmerit. ThetopstudentswillbeinvitedtorepresentSCASasadelegatetotheAmericanJuniorAcademyofSciences(AJAS),aconferenceheldconcurrentlywiththeannualmeetingoftheAmericanAssociationfortheAdvancementof Science (AAAS), the largest scientific organization in thenation. At thenationalmeeting,studentswillbeinductedaslifetimefellowsoftheAJAS.AftercompletingtheSCASRTP,studentswillhaveamuchbetterunderstandingofhowscienceisconducted, and they will gain invaluable skills in the process, including field and laboratorytechniques,dataprocessing,scientificwriting,andtheeffectivedeliveryofascientificpresentation.TheSCASRTPisanoutstandingwaytosupplementthestandardlearningapproachexperiencedinatypicalhighschoolclassroom,whereSCASRTPstudentparticipantsbecomemuchbetterversedinscientificmethodologythroughhands-onexperienceanddirectinteractionwithscientists.ManySCASRTPstudentsgoontoearncollegedegreesinscience,andeventuallypursuecareersinSTEM-relatedfields,dueinlargeparttotheirexperienceinthisspecialprogram.Weask that youencourageyourpromising students and theirparents to consider this enrichingexperience.Inparticular,weseekstudentsentering9-12gradeswhoarecommittedtocompletingthe program. Students must be prepared to spend up to20 hours monthly on their researchprojectfromAugustthroughApril.Studentsareencouragedtoparticipateinmultipleyears.Studentsshouldcompletetheapplicationonline:http://scas.nhm.org/junior-academy/Theapplicationrequiresstudentstoprovidethefollowingtothebestoftheirability:

• Potential project description, including goals, methods, resources, literature cited, and, ifalreadychosen,nameofprofessionalresearchmentorandtheirinstitution.

• Relevant course work, extra-curricular activities and other work, including part-timeemployment.

ThisonlineapplicationmustbecompletednolaterthanJune14,2019.In addition to the online application, please submit a letter of recommendation from a scienceteacher(cctheschoolprincipal)viaemailtoDr.KimoMorris–morris_kimo@sac.edu.

SouthernCaliforniaAcademyofSciences

900ExpositionBlvdLosAngeles,CA90007

scas.nhm@gmail.comscas.nhm.org

SupportingscientistsandstudentsinSouthernCaliforniasince1891

All contributions to the Academy are fully tax deductible as allowed by law.

Southern California Academy of Sciences is a Federally-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

Ifacceptedintotheprogram,studentswillberequiredto:• Pay$50SCASStudentMembershipfee(includesregistrationtoSCASAnnualMeetingand

RTPinsurance).• Attend3RTP trainingmeetings,heldonSaturdays inSeptember,November,andMarch

(TBA).• ProvideanabstractbyMarch22,2020• ProvideawrittenpaperontheirresearchbyApril15,2020.• Present their research at the SCAS annual meeting onMay 1, 2020 at California State

University,Fullerton.Welookforwardtoreceivingapplicationsfromyourmostpromisingstudents.Sincerely,KimoMorris GloriaJ.TakahashiSCASBoardofDirectors,MemberatLarge SCASBoardofDirectors,MemberatLargeSCAS-RTPCo-Chair SCAS-RTPCo-Chair/Manager___________________________ scas.nhm@gmail.comKimoMorris,Ph.D. AssociateProfessor DepartmentofBiology SantaAnaCollege morris_kimo@sac.edu 714-564-6620