ASU to host ExxonMobil/Harris summer science camp

March 4, 2009

By hammersmith

ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camps Expand to 30 Universities

ExxonMobil, in conjunction with Dr. Bernard Harris and the Harris Foundation, announced today the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp program will expand to 30 residential camps and include participation by 11 new universities.

The two-week camps are designed for under-privileged middle school students across the country and provide a fun-filled setting for them to gain a deeper understanding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics and to promote exciting careers in science.

Dr. Harris, a former NASA astronaut and the first African American to walk in space, created the camps four years ago with support from ExxonMobil. More than 1,500 students will take part in this year’s camps and explore themes such as “Mission to Mars,” “Revolutionary Robotics,” and “Energy and Motion.” The camps are free and all student expenses are paid for by the program.

“The success of this program is due to the support from ExxonMobil and our partnership with renowned universities across the country,” said Dr. Harris. “It’s rewarding to realize how many kids we can reach by providing a new and fun experience involving science while raising awareness about math and science careers.”

Rex W. Tillerson, chairman and chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil Corporation, said the camps help inspire young minds.

“ExxonMobil is dedicated to supporting programs that generate interest in math and science education and provide career options for students,” said Tillerson. “Our country needs future scientists and engineers and these camps are an investment in that future.”

At camp, students attend daily classes in natural science, engineering, mathematics and technology, taught by faculty of participating universities and secondary classroom teachers, who also receive professional development training. Activities include classroom study, experiments, individual, team and group projects, weekly field excursions and guest speakers who motivate students to fulfill their dreams.

To apply to attend the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camps, students must be academically qualified, genuinely interested in mathematics and science and be recommended by two teachers. More information about student eligibility and selection criteria can be found at the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp website at www.theharrisfoundation.org.

Numerous studies show that the United States faces a critical shortage of engineers, scientists and other workers in math and science. ExxonMobil is supporting programs and organizations that focus on improving mathematics and science education. The company also sponsors programs to increase the number of highly trained mathematics and science teachers, provide professional development and training opportunities for teachers, and attract students to pursue science- and math-related courses in middle school, high school and college.

This year’s university line up for the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris
Summer Science Camps includes (* new programs):
*University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM)
*Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)
Bowie State University (Bowie, MD)
Central State University (Wilberforce, OH)
*Delaware State University (Dover, DE)
*Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA)
Howard University (Washington, DC)
*Indiana University (Bloomington, IN)
Lamar University (Beaumont, TX)
New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark, NJ)
Northeastern University (Boston, MA)
*Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL)
Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR)
Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, TX)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY)
Southern University (Baton Rouge, LA)
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (Weatherford, OK)
Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)
*Trine University (Angola, IN)
*University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Little Rock, AR)
University of Houston (Houston, TX)
*University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Lincoln, NE)
University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK)
University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
University of Texas at Arlington (Arlington, TX)
*University of Texas-Pan American (Edinburg, TX)
University of Texas at San Antonio (San Antonio, TX)
University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
Washington University at St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
*Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA)