The Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology hosted students from Fargo high schools during the summer as part of the PICNICS (Parents Involvement with Children, Nurturing Intellectual Curiosity in Science) program. The program aims to integrate parents and their children in science and encourage ninth through 12th graders to consider science as a career path.
"Informing both parents and their children in organized settings regarding the importance of science and technology will help them make informed decisions toward science and math when considering college majors and career paths," said Sivaguru Jayaraman, program coordinator and assistant professor of chemistry and molecular biology.
Students were selected based on recommendations from their high school teachers. They worked alongside graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and carried out research in NDSU’s Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology.
The PICNICS program was conducted in collaboration with Todd Bertsch, principal at Fargo South High School; Carol Beaton, advanced placement science teacher at Fargo South High School; and Dale Miller, vice-principal at Fargo North High School.
Five students were selected for the program. Kelsie L. Eiler, Tony B. Wendorff and Suzzane M. McConn represented Fargo South High School. Adeeti R. Katti and Landon J. Melchior represented Fargo North High School.
Jayaraman, Kent Rodgers, Mukund Sibi, John Hershberger and D. K. Srivastava, all faculty from the Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, hosted students in their research groups for the summer. At the end of the program, students presented a poster on their research at a reception held for them by the Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology.
For more information, contact Jayaraman at 1-8923 or sivaguru.jayaraman@ndsu.edu. Additional details are available at
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