Teens in the Tyson Environmental Research Fellowships (TERF) program presented the results of summer ecological research at the WUSTL Fall 2013 Undergraduate Research Symposium Oct. 26.
The TERFers braved ticks, chiggers, and poison ivy during four weeks working in the field alongside university faculty, staff, post-doctoral researchers, and undergraduates at Tyson Research Center. The TERF program provides a cultural apprenticeship in university-based environmental biology research and training in scientific communication. It is an advanced summer experience modeled on the undergraduate research internships offered at Tyson.
For several Sunday afternoons in September and October, the TERFers gathered to work on data analysis and poster construction with guidance from their research mentors. The resulting eleven TERF posters were indistinguishable from those generated by undergraduates and made up 5% of the total posters in the research symposium. Many visitors were surprised to learn the TERFers were high school students after hearing their well-practiced research presentations.
Learn more about SIFT & TERF, unique science education programs that connect high school students directly to field research scientists, allowing for deep and transparent career exploration.