The closing ceremony for the summer camp of Nurturing American Tribal Undergraduate Research Experience, known as NATURE, is set for Friday, June 17, at NDSU’s West Dining Center.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m. with a prayer and honor song by Michael Gabbard. Speakers will acknowledge this year’s participants.
Now in its 12th year, the two-week science, technology, engineering and mathematics camp, which began June 6, features laboratory visits, field visits and demonstration projects in a variety of science-related areas. During the camp, high school and college students are introduced to STEM disciplines and numerous career opportunities.
“The NATURE program is as relevant as it has ever been, we’ve set a record for student participation this summer. The students, their families and their teachers have recognized that this program can make an impact on the student’s life.” said Robert Pieri, program coordinator and professor of mechanical engineering, noting the students give presentations on research projects on the closing day of the camp. “For some students, their presentation is the scariest experience they have had in their lives, but it really opens a new door for them.”
This year, 24 North Dakota Native American college and high school students participated in the camp. Each year, students are recruited by faculty from North Dakota’s tribal colleges: Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, Sitting Bull College, Turtle Mountain Community College, and United Tribes Technical College.
Funding for the program is provided by the state of North Dakota and National Science Foundation Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Research Infrastructure Improvement Program Track-1 (RII Track-1) Grant Award IIA-1355466.
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