Governor's School for Science and Math Students Experience College-Level Scientific and Economic Research
July 16, 2012
COLUMBIA, SC – June 13, 2012 – Sixty-eight rising seniors from theSouth Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM),along with select non-GSSM students from other public, private or homeschool settings, are spending six weeks conducting college-levelresearch alongside professional scientists and innovators in labs andbusinesses across South Carolina.
The Summer Program forResearch Interns (SPRI), a graduation requirement for GSSM’s risingseniors, is a unique, hands-on educational opportunity and capstoneexperience. Students spend six weeks in corporate research anddevelopment labs, research universities, hospital cancer centers andstart-up technology companies across the state under the directsupervision of established scientists and mentors. Research topicsrange from hearing development and improving drug delivery for cancerpatients to converting algae into methane gas and analyzing SouthCarolina’s big industries.
Through SPRI, students are exposedto a real-world problem and given the opportunity to search for asolution using the tools available in research laboratories andincubators, said Randy LaCross, VP of Outreach & Research at GSSM.Through this learning experience, many of our students discover apassion for scientific research and confirm a resolve to pursue science,technology, engineering, and math fields of study and careers.
In2009, the SPRI experience added an international component, theResearch Exchange Scholars Program (RESP). In partnership with RocheCarolina, Roche Mannheim, Roche Corporate Headquarters and theGreenville Hospital System, RESP sends GSSM students to Germany andKorea to conduct research in international labs. In exchange, studentscome to GSSM from overseas to complete research projects in SouthCarolina facilities.SPRI research partnerships include ClemsonUniversity, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), theUniversity of South Carolina (USC), Furman University, the GreenvilleHospital System, Engenuity, EnduringFX, Winthrop University and SavannahRiver National Lab, among others. SPRI also boasts a SmartStatepartnership, through which a number of students are placed with EndowedChairs at MUSC and USC.
SPRI would not be possible without thegenerous support of AbitibiBowater, AdvanceSC, Burroughs & Chapin,Capsugel, CSX, D.L. Scurry Foundation, Dargan Construction, Doris DukeCharitable Foundation, Fluor Foundation, Force Protection, Fujifilm,Fujikura Foundation, GE Healthcare, Graham Foundation, GreenvilleHospital System, Horry Telephone Cooperative, InterTech GroupFoundation, Jolley Foundation, Lipscomb Family Foundation, MillikenFoundation, Nucor Steel, Post and Courier Foundation, ScanSource, SuzanBoyd & Ed Sellers, W.C. English Foundation and Waste Management.
About GSSM
The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM)is a two-year, public, residential high school in Hartsville, SC,specializing in the advanced study of science, technology, engineeringand math (STEM), with a unique emphasis on economics andentrepreneurship.GSSM can serve as many as 300 high school juniors andseniors annually from across the state. In addition, the school impactsmore than 24,000 teachers and students each year through its innovativeoutreach programs. Newsweek and The Washington Post consistently rankGSSM among the Top 20 public elite high schools in the nation.
In March 2011, GSSM launched the Wave Campaign to build awareness,energy and momentum around the study of STEM.
GSSM is committed tohelping bridge the achievement gap for our low achievers, providinggame-changing opportunities to our high achievers and building astronger workforce, ultimately impacting economic development.
GSSM isasking that all South Carolinians Do the Wave in support of STEMeducation. Support can be shown by flying the icon for the campaign, theflag, either at your home, business or on Facebook.
Learn more andstart waving by visiting www.scgssm.org or www.dothewavesc.com.
