Project SCORE (Student-Centered Outcomes Research Experience)

Posted on August 4, 2023, updated on November 16, 2023

Project Website(s)

  • Project Description

    Project SCORE seeks to increase awareness of and interest in public health, science engagement and STEM careers, as well as increase matriculation into higher education STEM programs to enhance and diversify the future biomedical workforce.

  • Abstract

    Systemic inequities in access to healthcare and quality educational opportunity for the youth of Mississippi (MS) are powerful forces that disengage students from entering pathways toward STEM careers. Project SCORE (Student Centered Outcomes Research Experience) proposes to engage students from groups underrepresented in STEM career trajectories through a youth participatory action research (YPAR) approach, capturing and retaining their attention through the immediacy of health threats such as COVID-19. Guided by a YPAR approach, Project SCORE will leverage a near-peer mentor model to engage and support underrepresented students in an exploration of the field of public health. Project SCORE will bring together underrepresented high school and graduate health sciences students from two communities with significant health disparities in a year-long weekly afterschool program to develop relevant health behavior research questions, provide training in research methods, and facilitate the development of student-conducted research projects mentored by near-peer graduate health sciences students and faculty. A student-centered research agenda will be developed to support future research initiatives. Students will complete their experience with a week-long on campus immersion experience. This project seeks to increase awareness of and interest in public health, science engagement, and STEM careers, as well as increase matriculation into higher education STEM programs to enhance and diversify the future biomedical workforce.

  • Dissemination Strategies

    Curriculum materials disseminated via the program website and presented at conferences. Project description and outcomes disseminated at conferences and in publications in journals.

Project Audience

Project SCORE serves high school students in an afterschool program

Subjects Addressed

Public health
Health education
Careers in the health sciences
Research methods
Research ethics
Health-related research agenda
Health-related research projects