SEM Link hosted a field trip to expose Oakland youth to Environmental Science

Nov. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- On Friday, November 11, 2011 Science, Engineering and Mathematics Link Inc, through its Math and Science Career Academy, hosted a field trip for 17 fourth through sixth grade students from Hoover, Lafayette, Martin Luther King Jr., Maxwell Park and PLACE at Prescott Elementary Schools and West Oakland Middle School. The purpose of this trip was to expose youth to environmental science by engaging them in hands on science activities in a local regional park.  The activities were led Dr. Benjamin Ramage and Ms. Hannah Salim of the Dr. Matthew D. Potts Lab in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management in the College of Natural Resources at the University of California at Berkeley. During the trip the students learned about plants and wildlife, got an opportunity to examine plants, insects and soils using mini-microscopes and learned about types of experiments and the tools used when environmental scientists conduct experiments in the woods.

This field trip is a part of SEM Link Math and Science Career Academy’s initiative to expose youth to the diversity of STEM disciplines by engaging them in hands on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities. These hands on STEM activities include activities done at the school sites or at the location where STEM professionals work. The majority of the students selected for this trip were from schools in West Oakland as a result of SEM Link’s participation in the West Oakland STEM corridor collaborative.  This collaborative led by Ms. Mia Settles-Tidwell, Regional Network Executive Officer for PK-8 Regional One. The goal of this collaborative is to form a partnership between the schools in West Oakland, corporations, government agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide framework and resources to enhance the STEM educational experiences for students and prepare them to become a part of the future STEM workforce.  “It was exciting to see and hear the students’ wonderment as they experienced a broader world beyond their daily life. The linked learning exploratory pathway to SEM will prepare our students to meet globally” said Ms. Settles-Tidwell.



About SEM Link
Founded in 2005, SEM Link is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization that promotes student achievement and career exploration in math and science for K-12 students by connecting them with individuals with backgrounds in science, engineering and mathematics. SEM Link has a two-core program model, Experimental Design Program and Math and Science Career Academy. These programs provide students with opportunities to develop math and science skills by enhancing the classroom learning experience and teaching them skills that are transferable to other areas of life. For more information about SEM Link visit our website at www.semsuccess.org or contact Ms. Tokiwa T. Smith, Executive Director and Founder, via e-mail at tokiwa.smith@semsuccess.org or via phone at 888-600-6294.

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Founded in 2005, SEM Link is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization that promotes student achievement and career exploration in math and science for K-12 students by connecting them with individuals with backgrounds in science, engineering and mathematics. SEM Link has a two-core program model, Experimental Design Program and Math and Science Career Academy. These programs provide students with opportunities to develop math and science skills by enhancing the classroom learning experience and teaching them skills that are transferable to other areas of life.