Mentorship · BridgeSTEM Foundation
Baldwin Junior Researchers
A research mentorship program for middle schoolers at Baldwin Arts and Academics Magnet, my old middle school. We take students from their first research question all the way to science fair competition.
Overview
I came up with the idea for Baldwin Junior Researchers and co-founded it with a fellow BridgeSTEM co-founder. Together we coach a cohort of 20+ middle schoolers through the full research process, and I draw on my own path through GEARSEF, ASEF, and ISEF to help them along the way.
The curriculum
Literature review
Reading what’s already known about a topic and finding a question worth asking.
Project design
Turning that question into a hypothesis and a plan for an experiment.
Data analysis
Collecting results, graphing them, and figuring out what they actually show.
Competition
Building the board, practicing the presentation, and competing.
My role
- Co-built the 20+ hour curriculum with my co-founder: literature review, project design, and data analysis
- Co-coach students from research questions and experimental design through competition
- Help students prepare for GEARSEF and ASEF, the same regional and state fairs I competed in