Each morning 11 E.E. Waddell students put on their lab coats and head to research class to study the effects of coffee on healthy mouths—a groundbreaking opportunity came through the Society for Science and the Public and the Intel Science Talent Search project.  Representatives from the Society for Science and the Public visited Stubbs’ research class Thursday, Dec. 17 to meet the students and see their work.

“With resources from Society for Science and the Public, Ms. Stubbs is able to take her students to a new level,” said Jennifer Carter, director of outreach for Society for Science and the Public.

Tamica Stubbs, who teaches the students, was named one of 10 teachers in the United States selected to participate in the SSP Fellows Program.  Approximately 105 teachers applied for the program.  Stubbs’ task is to work with low-performing and minority students and prepare them for a rigorous science competition.

“This is such an awesome opportunity for our students,” Stubbs said.  “Very few schools and students are able to work on this kind of research in high school.”

The students are working on five projects including studying soil ecology, how mercury in fish affects humans and treatments for filarial diseases.  They are also students are working in teams, using a mentor-mentee model that is used in colleges and universities.

“This method is teaching them to think like a scientist and researcher,” said Dr. Alice Lee, education director for the Contemporary Science Center in Raleigh.

Stubbs was awarded $8,500 to prepare students for the competition.  She will use the money to provide materials for the projects and to invite local, regional and national scientists to visit her class and work with students.  In addition, parents and community members were invited to an information session to learn more about the class.

“I feel privileged to be in this class,” said senior Kortnie Polk.  “It’s opening many doors for our future.”

Through a generous grant from Intel, the SSP Fellows Program provides funds and training to selected U.S. science and math teachers who serve under-resourced students. 

The Intel Science Talent Search is America’s most prestigious pre-college science competition.  It provides an opportunity for students to participate in original research that is recognized and reviewed by a national jury of professional scientists.

The Intel Science Talent Search recognizes 300 students and their schools as semifinalists each year and invites 40 student finalists to Washington, DC to participate in final judging, display their work to the public, and meet with notable scientists and government leaders. Each year, Intel STS Semifinalists and Finalists compete for $1.25 million in scholarships and awards.