How a unique grant is bringing hands-on STEM learning to North Carolina students

As more life sciences companies set up shop in North Carolina, it’s imperative to introduce middle school and high school students to these career options.

The department was formed on Jan. 1, 2022, when the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Department of Clinical Research merged at the university. Through its educational programs, the new department aims to be recognized nationally for, "supplying premier talent and scientific knowledge that improves global health and quality of life," said Dr. Charles A. Carter, Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical & Clinical Sciences.

The funds went to good use almost immediately. Within weeks of the announcement, students from Brunswick County Early College High School and Southeast Magnet High School were on campus participating in clinical research escape rooms and learning to make 3D printed toys. Within a month of the grant announcement, no-cost STEM workshops were announced for January through March. These workshops are offered in-person or virtually through the academy. The plan is to target students in rural areas and historically underrepresented populations.

"We have found that students in these areas are largely unaware of the variety and attractiveness of different career options in healthcare and STEM disciplines," said Dr. Tim Marks, Grant Program Director and Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical & Clinical Sciences at Campbell University. "Our goal is to help bridge that gap while providing new, hands-on activities to these students. The grant has given us the resources to ramp up our efforts and increase our outreach."

The creation of the academy will help the department educate middle and high school students on why they should consider entering the life sciences and offer workshops that include hands-on learning in a university setting.

The three-year grant allows for eight high school visits each fall, five on-campus workshops, two virtual workshops, and a week-long residential camp, Marks said.

"The school visits are hands-on and have been well-received by the teachers and the students," Marks said. "We are there for several hours and everyone is so engaged, which leads to a level of excitement for learning more about life sciences."

The education focuses on areas such as engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, and clinical research.

At The Academy for Emerging Scholars, students get the opportunity to be immersed in cutting-edge STEM activities. They are also given opportunities for on-campus and virtual workshops and summer residential STEM camps.

Carter recalled walking into one of the workshops and being inspired by the engagement he witnessed.

"I walked into a room and you would see a group of students working as a team and shouting and yelling as they were working to complete it," he said. "It was impressive and students were saying out loud ‘when can we do this again?’"

The experience for the students is so unique that the department is now receiving requests from high schools to find out how they can be part of it.

"You can really see how the STEM camps are helping students," he said. "We are now getting contacted from schools at an unprecedented level to talk to these students about STEM opportunities. We are doing as many of these talks as we possibly can. There is a commitment to meet this need."

The need is twofold. First, the academy hopes to create more interest in life sciences. Then, they hope to help students realize that the life sciences could truly be a career path for them. That is particularly important as the region continues to add more jobs in the life sciences.

"We are reaching high school students to build awareness about STEM careers," said Monica Fanjoy, Departmental Science Education Outreach Coordinator. "Pharmaceutical science and clinical research are particularly significant because there is a large demand for these careers in North Carolina and most students are unfamiliar with these fields."

Fanjoy said it’s critical the region maintains a leadership position in STEM.

"We are the Silicon Valley of pharma," she said. "And we have to keep up with STEM by being a leader and ensuring we get today’s students into these careers. It's a great opportunity."

Carter mentioned that their industry partners would love nothing more than to receive additional interns from schools like Campbell. He said they are working hard to reach students and parents.

"We are trying to get information to parents about these opportunities so they’ll encourage their children to participate in our workshops," Carter said. "We explain to students in our visits about what is being produced in life sciences so they come to understand that vaccines are being created here. It’s opening their eyes."

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Campbell University offers three-day STEM day camps during the summer.

During these 1-day sessions, students will learn about the fields of pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, clinical research, physician assistant, physical therapy, and nursing.