Environmental Justice Program Open For High Schoolers

 USA Health’s Center for Healthy Communities and the University of South Alabama’s (USA) Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences have announced the STEMM Scholars for Environmental Justice (SSEJ) Program. The program will offer the opportunity for 11th- and 12th-grade students in Mobile County to explore science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) careers while working to tackle real-world environmental challenges. They will examine environmental hazards and their impacts on the health of Gulf Coast residents. The program offers students independent learning modules, field trips and a final research project with guidance from USA mentors. Students may also participate in a graduation ceremony. A grant of nearly $1 million from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine will fund SSEJ, which will take place between June 9 and July 11 at USA in Mobile. Participants, who will be selected from Mobile County Public School System high schools, the Alabama School for Math and Science and Accel Academy, will receive a cash reward upon completion of the program. Students interested in joining the program should speak with their school liaison to learn more about the application process and how to be considered for selection.