A Program of the Education Division of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Conducted by the Quality Education for Minorities
(QEM) Network
1999 SHARP PLUS Program
June 14 - August 6, 1999
Application Deadline: Monday, February 1, 1999
Decision Notice: Friday, April 2, 1999
The NASA Summer High School Apprenticeship
Research Program (SHARP) PLUS is a research-based
mentorship program that was initiated in 1993.
It is conducted by the QEM Network for the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA).
During their eight-week SHARP PLUS research experiences,
apprentices work with industry- or university-based
mathematics, science, and engineering (MSE) professionals
and engage in "hands-on" research. In addition, students live
on a college campus, participate in a variety
of enrichment activities, and establish relationships with a diversity
of other
SHARP PLUS apprentices.
SHARP PLUS college/university host sites are institutions
with a demonstrated commitment to high quality MSE
education for all students. Coordination and
supervision at each college/university site is provided by a SHARP PLUS
faculty coordinator and his/her staff.
To increase the participation and success rates
of students who are underrepresented in mathematics and science
pre-college courses, with the intent of increasing
their participation and success in mathematics and science, thereby
increasing the pool of such students as mathematics,
science, and engineering majors in college and, hence, their
representation among prospective science and
engineering professionals available for the workplace.
SHARP PLUS will offer a select group of approximately
300 underrepresented high school students, with aptitude and
interest in science and engineering, the opportunity
to participate in an intensive summer apprenticeship program. SHARP
PLUS will be conducted over an eight-week period
by major colleges and universities. The students will live on the
institutions' campuses (about 20 at each site)
and work with researchers/mentors at nearby industrial sites or in research
laboratories at the institutions in which cutting-edge
research is being conducted.
SHARP PLUS aims to establish individual working
relationships between students and active researchers in
aerospace-related fields, and to strengthen the
nation's and the government's efforts to recruit and sustain
underrepresented students in science and engineering
fields. The Program offers aerospace-focused researchers and other
science and engineering professionals the opportunity
to serve as mentors to such students (16 years of age or older) who
are rising eleventh and twelfth graders with
interest and potential in science and engineering.
During this apprenticeship, the students will
carry out research assignments, prepare reports, make oral presentations,
and
participate in a variety of enrichment activities
under the careful supervision of a SHARP PLUS Faculty Coordinator and
staff at each host institution. Students will
also prepare written final reports on their research that will be submitted
to
NASA and will be required to participate in a
community service-focused Academic Year Project upon their return to
school in the fall.