Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Fellowships for high school educators to conduct environmental research and mentor teams of students.
MH-YES RET (Research Experiences for Teachers) Fellows will be innovative, local high school teachers interested in strengthening their teaching, research and mentoring skills. They will join a professional learning community focused on engaging a diverse group of students and community members in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).
The RET Teacher Fellows will conduct research in urban stream ecology and hydrology under the mentorship of Drs. Stuart Findlay and Zion Klos. Each Fellow will be an integral part of one of two teams of four high school students, each being mentored by one of the scientists along with an undergraduate student. These teams will collaborate to design and carry out a research project during the summer program.
Drs. Findlay and Klos have extensive experience working with high school teachers as RETs and through several education programs with Cary educators. The Fellows also will be mentored by Dr. Alan Berkowitz (Cary Head of Education) and Ashley Alred (Cary Education Program Leader) in both the research and education components of the experience.
The Fellows will develop applications of the ecological research to her/his teaching, producing an instructional unit to pilot test in the 2020-21 school year. We will follow-up with the RET Fellow periodically during the school year, coming into the classroom to observe and assist during implementation of their units, and helping with assessment and documentation. Each Fellow will produce a small portfolio at the end of the school year to document their experience and insights from the program.
Apply
Application deadline: February 28th, 2020
YES Teacher Fellows will spend six weeks this summer working with an undergraduate to co-lead research teams made up of 4 high school students, under the mentorship of Cary Institute and Marist College scientists and educators.
Both research teams will focus broadly on current water quality issues in the Hudson River watershed, including but not limited to: Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) in the Hudson and its tributaries under our warming climate, tributary flashiness, turbidity and water chemistry responses to storm events.
While the general research topics are set, it is the YES Teacher Fellows will work closely with the high school students, undergraduate researcher, and participating scientist to develop specific questions and experiments. We are especially interested in local teachers who have experience working with students in the MH-YES Program target demographic.
*Some travel support is available for teachers
You will be notified by March 13, 2020 regarding your acceptance into the program.
Questions? Please contact Dr. Alan Berkowitz: berkowitz@caryinstitute.org or (845) 677-7600 x 321.