Center Activities

Student Science Education Outreach Grants

The Duke Center for Science Education offers grants ($500-1500) for student teams to develop hands-on science activities for children in Grades 4-10.  

This year will have two themes.

  • The Five Senses and how they help us make sense of science, medicine, and everyday life.  
  • The Science of Human Health, Physiology, Fitness & Nutrition, including bacteriology, human physiology (cardio, respiratory, energy), food chemistry & nutrition, and a sampling of molecular biology in everyday life.  We are particularly interested in activities related to heart health/physiology or nutrition.
Projects must relate to these topics in some way, but may be as diverse as the genetics of taste, the chemistry of making ice cream, making medicines from plants, using catapults to mimic batting and throwing, and more.  Use your creativity to make science come alive!  If you have a great idea and need help connecting it to the theme, please contact christine.adamczyk@duke.edu.

Applications for 2013-14 will be open in September 2013.

See Current & Former Awardees.
 

Summer Science Sleuths at Duke

Summer Science Sleuths at Duke is a two-week, residential, recreational summer camp presented by the Duke Center for Science Education on the campus of Duke University in Durham, NC.

Active, bright, curious campers will be chosen through an online application process.  We are looking for campers who have a broad range of interests that include science (even if science isn't your strongest interest).  Summer Science Sleuths will engage a diverse group of campers from anywhere in the US.

Campers will discover that almost everything they do is connected to science.  Along the way, campers might also find that science is fun and that science is a key element to their future - no matter what career they choose.  Campers will explore the world of science through hands-on activities, games, puzzles, field trips, social events, crafts, recreational activities, visit with Duke's 'Superstar Scientists" and more.

For more information, go to www.sciencesleuths.duke.edu.

Student Impact Awards

Student Impact Awards are given to students with science education-related projects that demonstrate impact or findings that will drive policy in science education. See former Awardees.
  

Hub for High School Internships

Under construction. Check back for additional information soon.


Consultation for Faculty

The Center provides consultation for faculty who are submitting government-funded Center grants (eg: NIH, NSF, NASA) that require a science education component.

Faculty Pilot Programs

See Awardees from the former Faculty Pilot Program.

 
 
President Brodhead Awards Duke's Center for Science Education Executive Director
Congratulations to Chris Adamczyk, Executive Director of Duke's Center for Science Education, who was honored on April 20 by President Brodhead for winning a 2010 Presidential Award . This prestigious award is given to Duke staff and faculty to recognize distinctive contributions to Duke University & the Duke Health System over the past year. Read more about her award here.
 
The Hartwell Foundation Gift Establishes Science Summer Camp for Teens
The Duke Center for Science Education has received a $1.3 million gift from The Hartwell Foundation to establish a residential summer science camp for teens in grades 8, 9, & 10.  The campers will be bright, curious, capable students who are still unsure about choosing science as a career path.  The camp, a collaboration between the Center and Duke Medicine, will seek to make a life-changing difference early in the lives of young campers by sparking the desire to follow an academic pathway that leads to lifelong involvement in science.  For more information and to view the press release, click here.
 
RBC Supports Center
The Duke Center for Science Education recently received generous support from RBC Corporate to support the Showcase of Science Education coming this Fall.  Stay tuned for more information on this exciting venture!
 
Duke Science Ed Project Goes Virtual
Duke Today's Research Blog features a story on a virtual reality program developed by students in Rochelle Schwartz-Bloom's independent study course in science education.  Students Marcel Yang and David McMullen reported to the Visualization Forum about their really cool program to help students learn chemistry--and it's all about alcohol! 
 
Spotlight on Interdisciplinary Studies
Spotlight on Interdisciplinary Studies: The Duke Center for Science Education is highlighted in the July 2008 Spotlight published by the Provost's Office on Interdisciplinary Studies.  Read how the Center interweaves faculty research, student education, and community outreach. 
 
Program Highlighted in Science Magazine

The Pharmacology Education Partnership (PEP), a high school curriculum developed by faculty in the Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology and at the NC School of Science & Math, was assessed nationally and published in the Sept.28, 2007 issue of Science Magazine. Details on the paper available here.