Pacific, Oregon MESA Partner To Inspire Diversity In STEM
Pacific University is entering into a long-term partnership designed to inspire middle and high school students toward STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers and ultimately bring more diversity to STEM professions.
The university is partnering with Oregon MESA to be the Washington County regional center for the organization’s after-school programs. The MESA program specifically aims to help students who have historically been underrepresented in STEM not only graduate from high school but also to prepare them for post-secondary studies in STEM-related fields.
“Pacific’s partnership with MESA is an avenue to further its outreach in Washington County and support enhancing diversity in STEM fields,” said Brian Jackson, director of Pacific’s School of Natural Sciences and associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. “The partnership not only provides students with MESA’s curriculum to explore science and innovation but also exposure to STEM college and career pathways through the resources of Pacific University.”
Three Washington County schools currently have Oregon MESA after-school programs: Liberty High School and Poynter Middle School in Hillsboro and Whitford Middle School in Beaverton. As the regional center, Pacific is working to expand student opportunities by onboarding additional schools and centers to offer the MESA programming.
The Washington County regional center supplements existing Oregon MESA centers in Multnomah, Klamath and Marion counties and one under development in Lane County.
Open to students in fifth through 12th grades, Oregon MESA is an after-school program that brings students together for weekly one-hour chapter meetings to work together on STEM-related challenges and projects. The program’s Next Generation Sciences Standards-aligned curriculum teaches a range of applicable skills, including problem-solving, idea generation, physical prototyping, iterative problem-solving, cooperative achievement, and public speaking.
Oregon MESA’s annual curriculum culminates with regional, state and national competitions, providing students opportunities to present research and projects with peers and other MESA chapters.
As the Washington County regional center for Oregon MESA, Pacific will help recruit new schools to participate in the program and will provide curriculum support by bringing in faculty members to discuss STEM topics.
Grant funding from Oregon MESA gives Pacific a part-time coordinator to facilitate the creation of local chapters and partnership opportunities between the chapters and the university. Jackson said that the program will also provide opportunities for Pacific students to serve as mentors for chapters and opportunities for faculty to present on their fields of expertise.
“We are excited to see a diverse cohort of students gain the opportunity to explore and find their purpose in the world of innovation and science,” Jackson said. “Our hope is that this inspiration will lead to creating future STEM leaders in Washington County, an area ripe with opportunities.”
ABOUT OREGON MESA
Oregon MESA is dedicated to helping students who have historically been underrepresented in STEM not only graduate from high school, but also enroll in post-secondary studies and enter the workforce with STEM skills and invention skills for the 21st century - fueling the innovation economy with diverse, talented leaders. Year after year, Oregon MESA programs produce real impact for positive societal change through an inclusive invention education ecosystem. More information about Oregon MESA can be found at oregonmesa.org.