Educational Outreach Program
Program Overview
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.
Outreach Activities
Career Exploration
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
- Bel Air High School’s “Careers in Your Backyard at APG”
- Cecil County STEM Rally
- Project DREAM Work’s Career Expo at Edgewood Middle School
- Aberdeen Middle School Career Fair
- Team America Rocketry Challenge
Curriculum Development
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 sector by transferring their technical knowledge and expertise.
Examples:
- Joppatowne High School’s Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (HSEP) Program
- Bel Air High School’s Biomedical Sciences Program
- Aberdeen Science and Math Academy Curriculum
- Cecil County Project Lead the Way Biomedical Sciences and Pre-Engineering
Guest Lecturing
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 s cience and engineering more compelling for them.
Examples:
- Havre de Grace Middle School’s Intervention and Enrichment Program
- Harford County’s Technology Needs Teens
- NASA Controller Sy Liebergot presentation for seven high schools and one middle school within HCPS
Mentoring
The Center’s SMEs help students academically succeed, build relationships and understand the real-world application of STEM in assignments such as senior capstone projects.
Examples:
- SMART students (NDEP)
- Joppatowne High School HSEP Program
- Aberdeen Science and Math Academy
- A.M. Academic Club at Edgewood Middle School
- Edgewood High School
Project Judging
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 (AEOP/RDECOM)
- Junior Science and Humanities Symposia (AEOP)
- FIRST Lego League (AEOP)
- Redeemer Classical Christian School (Baltimore County)
Scientist-in-the-Classroom Activities
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 demonstrat e their real-world applications.
Examples:
- CSI: Edgewood at eCYBERMISSION’s Army Enrichment Day (AEOP/RDECOM)
- CSI: Joppatowne for Joppatowne High School’s HSEP Program
- Engineering is Elementary at North Harford Elementary School
- The Magic of Science at Edgewood and Aberdeen Middle School
STEM Learning Modules
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:
- Material World Modules (NDEP in support of Cecil County’s STEM Academy)
- Lego Mindstorm Robotic Kits (NDEP in support of CCPS/HCPS)
- Engineering is Elementary (NDEP in support of HCPS)
Summer Camp Support
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:
- Joppatowne High School’s HSEP Summer Career Camp
- Cecil County STEM Academy Summer Camp
- Cyberwatch 12 Program (STEM Academy students from Anne Arundel County)
Teacher Professional Development
The Center’s S&Es offer teachers professional development opportunities in STEM, using real-world applications that enable the delivery of cutting-edge solutions and technologies in their workplace.
Examples:
- Cecil County science teachers
- Cecil County math teachers – Math Quest
- Harford County science teachers
- Harford County biology teachers
Tours
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
- A.M. Academic Club
- Harford Technical High School
- Aberdeen Middle School
- Aberdeen Science and Math Academy
Cecil County STEM Academy- Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (AEOP)
- University of Maryland Young Scholars
Partners
A formal partnership was outlined in education agreements with Harford and Cecil counties to support students and educators with real-world STEM experiences. 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 impact STEM education in its local communities.
Harford County Public Schools
http://www.hcps.org/
Cecil County Public Schools
http://www.ccps.org/
Harford Community College’s Project DREAM Work
http://www.harford.edu/
