Project ENGAGE of the Massachusetts Academy of Sciences
From Jenna Farrell
It’s never a dull moment here at the MAS, but before I go into further detail about why none of us sleep, I’d like to give you a bit of information about us if you aren’t already familiar with our story.

The Massachusetts Academy of Sciences (www.massacademysciences.org) is a non-profit organization founded in 2008 by Dr. Margaret (Peg) Riley, Professor in the Biology Department at UMass Amherst and co-founder of the Institute for Drug Resistance. The MAS works to improve STEM education for K-16 students across Massachusetts, and we launched our first initiative, Project ENGAGE!, in 2011 in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, the Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair, the Intel Corporation, the Everett Public Schools, and the Marlborough Public Schools. Project ENGAGE! provides 6th-12th grade public school students with near-peer mentors in order to increase student interest and achievement in independent STEM research projects.

Our first year was a smashing success! Piloted in the Everett Public Schools, over 80 students from five of the district’s schools consistently engaged with an undergraduate or high school student mentor from September to December. The mentors then returned to Everett to see their students in action at the district-wide science fair and were thrilled at how strongly the students scored amongst their peers. It was clear that the program truly made a difference in Everett!

This year, the program leaders will welcome the Quaboag Regional School District to the program and will also offer monthly teacher luncheon seminars, featuring an MAS Fellow (www.massacademysciences.org/fellows). Also, we’ll need some more mentors, so if you’re interested or know someone who is, please send me an e-mail!

Jenna Farrell is Executive Director of the Massachusetts Academy of Sciences.

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