Fifteen high school juniors, seniors, and first-year community college students are currently enrolled in a four-week summer program at USC’s Information Sciences Institute (ISI), a unit of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.
According to USC, the institute and Amazon joined forces to launch Stimulating STEM, a pilot program designed to support and encourage underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to enter STEM college education and careers. The program is running for the first time this June, according to USC.
“The primary goal of the Stimulating STEM program is to equip and empower high school and community college students from economically and socially disadvantaged communities,” said Lisa Bland in a statement. She reportedly worked alongside fellow members of ISI’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) outreach subcommittee, Jamani King and Lori Weiss, to initiate the program.
The students will enjoy campus residency, staying in pre-paid USC housing, and frequently traveling to the USC Information Sciences Institute located in nearby Marina del Rey. The program is completely free for participants, thanks to a grant awarded by Amazon.
Over the course of the program, students will be exposed to a wide range of computer science topics, including robotics, coding, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, space engineering, and more. Program participants will spend three to four hours each day learning about these topics through lecture-based sessions.
“Increasing representation in STEM is really important,” said King, who is leading the effort to create the new program, serving in the role of Stimulating STEM’s program manager. “We hope the program will get these students excited about engineering, build their confidence, and inspire more underrepresented youth to pursue an education and career in STEM.”
Additionally, students will attend one-day workshops taught by senior researchers at ISI, participate in tours of USC Viterbi research labs, and attend seminars to learn about the work and research of USC Viterbi scientists and engineers. The program will also include leadership, team building, wellness, and social activities.
Upon completion of the Stimulating STEM program, participants will be connected with other programs and initiatives that provide continued support for students considering pursuing an education and/or career in STEM in the future.
The Stimulating STEM program is one of two pilot programs launching this summer at USC Viterbi in collaboration with Amazon. The company has also pledged to sponsor 30 undergraduate students for an eight-week campus residency at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering in the summer of 2022 and in the summer of 2023.
The new USC Viterbi Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program will provide students with an opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research in USC Viterbi labs, gaining hands-on experience under the guidance of USC Viterbi faculty and Ph.D. students. The SURE program is open to undergraduates from across the United States, with a focus on students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in STEM fields.
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