Despite the importance of diversity in STEM fields, underrepresented minorities make up only a small percentage of college graduates majoring in STEM. The environmental health field is particularly homogenous, an especially disturbing fact given the pervasiveness of environmental injustice and the relationship between environmental issues and health in topics like air pollutants and cancer rates. 

Building on the work of a previous team, this team implemented and evaluated a comprehensive year-long curriculum focused on the intersection of environmental science and health, which includes college- and career-readiness training and mentorship.

Team members served as mentors for the Health and Environmental Scholars Program @Duke (HESP), meeting with Durham Public School (DPS) high school students during weekly in-person sessions throughout the school year. The curriculum, developed by team members, investigated the interplay of environmental science and health according to Next Generation Science Standards.

Program sessions were hands-on and interactive, featuring field trips to the Duke Campus Farm, Duke Forest, North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, and the Duke Marine Lab, where students had the opportunity to learn from experts, including environmental sciences faculty, and gain experiences not typically offered in high schools. 

Timing

Summer 2023 – Summer 2024

Team Outputs

Curriculum and evaluation for Health and Environmental Scholars Program @Duke (HESP)

See related teams, Enhancing Diversity in STEM Careers Through Mentored Training (2024-2025) and Enhancing Diversity in STEM Careers Through Mentored Training (2022-2023).

Photo courtesy of the Enhancing Diversity in STEM Careers Through Mentored Training team