Upward Bound and Veterans Upward Bound, both NDSU TRIO programs, will join forces for this summer's third Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Program.

The projects typically last one to two weeks and range from science-specific topics such as “Teaching Fish How to Change Directions and Training Them To Go Through Mazes” and “Dyeing Cells,” to health-conscious topics such as “Which Fast Food Restaurant Hamburger Has the Most Fat?”

Veterans Upward Bound asked a meteorologist to speak at their summer program a few years ago and Upward Bound students were invited to participate. Kris Mickelson, director of Upward Bound, and Bruce Steele, director of Veterans Upward Bound, noticed a natural bond occurring among the Veterans Upward Bound and Upward Bound students and realized their summer programs had components that could benefit one another.

When Veterans Upward Bound participants complete a project, they teach the same project to Upward Bound students with the goal of reinforcing the concept of collaboration. Veterans Upward Bound participants forming a mentoring relationship with Upward Bound students is an added bonus.

NDSU faculty from biology and chemistry departments provide laboratory space and equipment for the projects.

For more information, contact Mickelson at kristy.mickelson@ndsu.edu or 1-6535 or Steele at bruce.steele@ndsu.edu or 1-8543.