Outreach and Mentoring
Hopkins' Salinas Intern Program
In 2015, David Cade, a graduate student at Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station , founded a mentoring program in collaboration with Salinas High School to increase access to science for local underrepresented groups. Each year, the program has paired high school mentees with graduate student mentors at Hopkins to learn directly what it is like to be a researcher. Students work together in direct support of their supervisor's research and develop a small, original project that they then present to parents and members of the Hopkins community at the end of the school year. For 2021-22, we have confirmed an engagement of 5 mentee-mentor pairs.
Historically, the program has been unfunded and students have paid for transportation to and from the Hopkins campus (~60 mile round trip from Salinas HS) out of their own pocket. Beginning this year, due to the fundraising efforts of Will Gough and Dave Cade, a Salinas Intern Fund has been established to pay each student $500 for the quarter. Future funding will also provide new group experiences that go beyond the research laboratory and foster enhanced engagement with the local marine environment.
2023 Coordinator: James Fahlbusch
Other Outreach
Stanford Middle/High School Science Circle: The Stanford Science Circle, an academic enrichment program from Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies, offers quarter-long classes for local middle and high school students who are interested in exploring the vast and exciting world of scientific research. The Science Circle promotes science interest and career awareness through engaging lectures and hands on activities. Students learn directly from faculty, researchers, and post-doctoral scholars in the Stanford science community.
National Ocean Sciences Bowl (Sea Lion Bowl) - The NOSB is an academic competition and program that addresses a national gap in environmental and earth sciences in public education by introducing high school students to and engaging them in ocean science, preparing them for ocean science-related and other STEM careers, and helping them become knowledgeable citizens and environmental stewards. The regional bowl is the Sea Lion Bowl usually held at CSUMB.
Monterey Co Science Fair - Contact: Carol Reeb (Block Lab). Each year, Carol and volunteers (usually 2 people) select a student in the science fair for the “Water for Our Future” award. This award recognizes innovative projects that seek to solve a water shortage at home, at work (or school), or on the farm.
Young Women in Science - A one day field trip to Hopkins as part of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Teen Program. The day is full of different stations that the girls rotate through.
