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Long-term programs Lasting impact

Our programs influence core science skills, attitudes,
and outcomes for youth, teachers & scientists.

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Additional hours of hands-on science instruction for Science Club youth
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Science Club youth members since 2008
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Hours of hands-on professional development for SC2 teachers

RESEARCH & EVALUATION

The Science Club model is more than integrated science programming. We’re committed to developing impactful programs through rigorous evaluation. Science Club and Science Club Summer Camp were both developed through STEM Education Partnership Awards (SEPA) from the National Institutes for Health.

The corresponding longitudinal research studies track engagement, confidence, and skills for participants over many years. We measure academic outcomes (like test scores and science fair projects) alongside attitudes (through interviews and surveys) and personal outcomes (such as college majors and career choices).

We’re thrilled that Science Club programs are not only a fun, engaging and inspiring experience for our participants but that we’re seeing real measurable results.

Youth Alumni Career Paths

  • % Youth Entering STEM Fields
  • % Youth in College, Not STEM
  • % Youth in College, Major Unknown
  • Unknown

Science Club Alumni are Choosing STEM Majors

Science Club Afterschool exposes youth to many STEM fields and career paths. Through the Science Club curriculum, they explore everything from biomedical engineering to food science to environmental science. They work closely with their scientist mentors and learn about their mentors educational/career paths.

Now, our youth alumni are actively pursuing STEM careers.

Before Science Club, 1 out of 100 students from the Pedersen-McCormick Boys & Girls Club were entering STEM tracks in college. Of our college-aged Science Club alumni, 32% are currently enrolled in college STEM majors. They are interested in engineering, biology, computer science, and health medicine. We couldn’t be prouder of our alums!

Our Scientist Mentors Develop Key Skills

Science Club mentors gain teaching, communication, and leadership skills that will be valuable to their future careers.

Mentors participate in the program an average of 1.5 years, spending about 50 hours teaching urban youth. Mentors receive at least 12 hours of training during quarterly orientation sessions and professional development lunches. They also get plenty of informal support from Science in Society staff and their fellow mentors.

As a result of this training and their experience working with the kids at the Boys & Girls Clubs, Science Club mentors report significantly improved skills in a retrospective pre/post survey (ranking themselves on a scale from 1-5).

Mentors Report Increased Skills

  • Before Science Club
  • After Science Club

READ ABOUT OUR IMPACT

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Science Club TEDx Talk

This presentation, titled Relationships and Belonging in Science (Education), shares the development and design of the award-winning Science Club program model.
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Science Club Featured in Dimensions Magazine

The article, Science Club’s Secret Sauce, was published in a special edition of Dimensions, a print magazine published by the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC). View the issue overview and learn more about Dimensions here.
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Science Club Featured In Connected Science Learning

Science Club was featured in the inaugural issue of the National Science Teacher Association‘s journal Connected Science Learning.

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Science Club Shares Learning and Impacts

Science Club afterschool’s summative report for the National Institutes for Health shares some learning and impacts from the program’s first seven years.
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Science in Society Receives Award

Science in Society was awarded the inaugural Arts & Science Cities of Distinction Award from Phi Beta Kappa for community-focused science learning programs.

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Science in Society Receives Award

Science Club received $10,000 from the Noyce Foundation as part of the inaugeral STEM Impact Award from the Afterschool Alliance

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Science Club has hands down made my graduate school experience more fulfilling. This has been a tremendous learning experience. I’ve learned different teaching strategies, how to plan and design curriculum and build a relationship with a new community partner. I am starting a career in science outreach and education and that is 100% because of Science Club.
Stephanie RangelScience Club Mentor
I wasn’t thinking about a career in science until I started in Science Club at the Boys & Girls Club. It changed my life. My experience with Science Club – and the relationships I formed there – played a key role in my academic success, even in college. It would not have happened without the Club and Northwestern mentors.
Myles M.Science Club Graduate & STEM graduate of the University of Kentucky
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(847) 467-3297
Science in Society
sis@northwestern.edu