High schoolers at the cutting edge of chemistry

The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB) celebrated the successful completion of the third iteration of its Pathways program, an immersive and transformative initiative designed to provide high school students with hands-on laboratory experience. The program, formerly known as High School Lab Skills, concluded with a celebration breakfast held on Aug. 15, honoring the commitment and achievements of all its participants.

For six weeks during the summer, a select group of local high school students from Brighton High School and Boston Green Academy delved into the world of chemical experimentation and discovery. Designed and executed in partnership with the Harvard Ed Portal, Pathways seeks to expose students to the cutting edge of chemistry and introduce them to career pathways in the sciences. The Pathways summer program offered a well-rounded experience, including science literacy lessons along with hands-on laboratory work. Guided by professors and experienced researchers, interns engaged in collaborative projects and got to experience firsthand the excitement and challenges of scientific research.

“Our goal is to identify and support high school students who may not yet be aware of the exciting possibilities within STEM laboratory careers,” said Hannah Miller, CCB program administrator. “For chemistry, this program complements our collective focus on fostering mentorship, increasing diversity, and engaging with the Boston public school community.”

Local high school students were nominated for the Pathways Program by their teachers, which kicked off last spring with a weekly class at the Ed Portal focused on science literacy and laboratory skills. At the end of the semester, the Ed Portal hosted an event where the students demonstrated their acquired skills and were paired with mentors from CCB labs for their summer research internship.

Throughout the summer, the graduate student and postdoc mentors provided helpful guidance and instruction. The mentors worked alongside their interns as they performed experiments, read scientific papers, attended group meetings, lunched with faculty and staff, and utilized the department’s advanced research facilities.

“The work of this program cannot be done without our mentors,” said Deana Reardon, executive director of CCB. “They are the face of the department, their labs, of making science accessible to students, and they are truly the key to making this program successful.”

The program made a significant impact on the high schoolers, exposing them to potential careers in the STEM fields and equipping them with new skills in chemistry research.

“My favorite thing about the program is how they encourage you to stay curious and to ask questions,” said Ni Lab intern Anabel Del Rosario.

Looking ahead, CCB is committed to building on the success of Pathways. Photos and a celebration video are available CCB’s Website.