BVSD finding new sources to fund high school science research seminar

Mar. 17—Uncertain funding recently raised concerns for teachers about the future of the Boulder Valley School District's high school science research seminar program.

Science research seminar, which was created more than 20 years ago, had been paid for using state money earmarked for gifted and talented programs. But the district earlier this year determined the program doesn't meet the requirements because students don't need to be identified as gifted.

In the class, seniors, juniors and the occasional sophomore typically spend a year working on an independent research project, often with the help of university mentors and with access to university or other local labs.

Area Superintendent Margaret Crespo said Thursday that money has been identified in next school year's budget to continue to cover the cost for teachers — the equivalent of a 1.4 full-time teacher spread among seven high schools — for at least the next school year.

As is the case now, Crespo said, each school's leadership will determine what classes to offer based on student interest and enrollment numbers.

"The staffing will be available, if buildings choose to use it," she said.

A dedicated funding source is important, teachers said, because it allows them to continue to offer the class in years when enrollment is lower instead of "competing" with other electives for the limited staffing available. In many cases, elective classes aren't offered if there aren't enough students to fill a class.

Katherine Ellis, a longtime science research seminar teacher at Monarch High School, said it would be difficult to restart the program after taking a year off.

"I start recruiting for science research seminar as soon as I see anyone with curiosity and talent in my classes," she said, adding she also started a science honor society to increase engagement.

Paul Strode, Fairview High's science research seminar teacher, said the program was started based on parent and teacher concerns that few high school students entered the regional science fair or other prestigious science contests.

Science research seminar, he said, gives students connections to research labs and the resources, knowledge and time they need to work on projects.

Their culminating project is to enter their research in Boulder Valley's regional science fair. Regional winners go on to compete in the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair and the International Science and Engineering Fair. Boulder Valley students also have entered their projects in the national Regeneron Science Talent Search.

An estimated 90% of the high school students who participate in the regional science fair are either in science research seminar or the senior design class in the engineering program at Centaurus High School.

Along with wining awards, teachers said, the research experience students gain helps them stand out when applying for college and for college internships.

"It's a game changer for students," Strode said. "It puts them on a path. My kids thrive in this environment. It's unlike any class they've ever taken. They can come into class and just nerd out on science and technology."

He recently brought in four former science research seminar students to talk to his current class about life after high school, including Fairview 2015 graduate Logan Collins. Collins is the chief technical officer at a startup company and a graduate student in biomedical engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

He took the science research seminar class three years in a row, winning first place in the microbiology category at International Science and Engineering Fair, as well as taking second place in the national BioGENEius Challenge.

"(Science research seminar) and the (International Science and Engineering Fair) started me off on my journey of scientific research," he said in an email. "Though I had always wanted to be a scientist, SRS and ISEF galvanized my excitement around synthetic biology and gave me a first exposure to the adventures of innovation. Ever since, I have been engaged in scientific research."

Kristin Donley, BVSD's STEM director, described science research seminar as "one of the best programs we ever created in Boulder Valley."

In future years, she said, it's possible schools with low enrollment could have their students virtually join another high school's science research seminar class so they would still have the opportunity to participate.

"Hopefully, we can keep it going for many years to come," she said.