The ND EPSCoR Nurturing American Tribal Undergraduate Research and Education, known as NATURE, University Summer Camp will return to the campuses of NDSU and the University of North Dakota. The camp will run at both NDSU and UND from June 6 to June 17.
Each June, the ND EPSCoR State Office hosts its NATURE University Summer Camp for Tribal College and University students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, called STEM. During the camp, students spend two weeks at the two largest research universities in North Dakota and engage in research related to their chosen academic fields. Camp participants tour the NDSU and UND campuses, tour STEM labs, meet faculty and conduct short research projects.
Dozens of students are expected to travel from Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, Sitting Bull College and Turtle Mountain Community College to attend the camp. They will be able to explore their STEM interests as they are introduced to a research university experience. Student mentors work with camp attendees during their stay.
Raymond Burns, ND EPSCoR tribal partnerships manager, organizes the camp with the aid of associate camp coordinators Uwe Burghaus, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at NDSU, and Hallie Chelmo, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at UND.
“Many Tribal College and University STEM students have never had the opportunity to work in dedicated laboratory spaces to pursue their academic goals. Through the University Summer Camp, students have that opportunity, and it is hoped that through this opportunity, they will continue to pursue a career in STEM,” Burns said.
The University Summer Camp kicks off with a welcoming ceremony on June 6 at 11 a.m. at the Diederich Atrium in the NDSU Alumni Center and a closing ceremony on June 17 at 12:30 p.m. at the Gransberg Community Room in the Gorecki Alumni Center at UND. Both the opening and closing ceremonies are open to the public.
NATURE programs are currently funded by the state of North Dakota and the National Science Foundation EPSCoR Track-1 Cooperative Agreement OIA #1946202.
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