FORSE Mentoring

WHY FORSE?

Students who participate in elite statewide STEM programs such as our State Science & Engineering Fair (SSEF) and the Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS) gain confidence as their interest in science and competence grows. As they interact with STEM professionals and like-minded peers, they start to envision a future for themselves in STEM. These competitive programs open doors to scholarships, STEM majors in college, and STEM careers for many Minnesota students. However, some students do not have access to these programs. Our goal at MAS is to remove the barriers to participation that some students experience by providing them with the mentors and resources they need to learn to do research and present it to others.  

Help the Minnesota Academy of Science (MAS) raise a total of $5,000 to support FORSE! The goal of this program is to provide access to school, regional and statewide science fairs/showcases and science enrichment for all Minnesota students.

MORE ABOUT FORSE

Enabling FORSE participants to successfully participate in science learning, enrichment and science research is a first step in fostering their interest in STEM education and STEM careers. Our belief is that as students learn the rigor, discipline, and creative thinking involved in scientific research and presentation, they will flourish as students and have a wider range of career opportunities open to them.  When this happens, we all benefit.

After just two years, FORSE is already having an impact.

Cindy Ward-Thompson, Principal at Bdote Learning Center, a Dakota and Ojibwe language immersion school in Minneapolis, says that her school is partnering with FORSE because she's seen the impact science fairs can have on children's lives. "One of my students is working on her Masters of Geology at the University of Minnesota because she learned about her passion for the subject researching for her 9th grade Science Fair project."

In the first two years of the program,  78% of FORSE participants at Bdote reported having more interest in science programs and clubs. Teachers reported that 100% of FORSE participants showed improvement in their reading and writing skills during classroom activities. 

This year, FORSE will serve even more students. Please help us to meet the needs of these students and expand the scope of this exciting program so that we can reach even more Minnesota students.