AWARD YEAR: 2024

AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY NORTH CAROLINA SECTION

DIRECTOR: ANIBAL LOPES

PROJECT TITLE: EXTENSION OF G-1021840 PROJECT SEED- ADDITION OF SUPPLEMENTAL FALL AND SPRING PROGRAMS TO RESEARCH "A NEW THERAPY FOR SICKLE CELL DISEASE"

Project SEED is a program sponsored by the American Chemical Society (ACS) that opens doors for economically disadvantaged students by allowing them to experience what it’s like to work in the chemical sciences. Our mission is to provide sustained STEM research, learning, and growth opportunities for high school students with diverse identities and socioeconomic backgrounds so they can be empowered to advance and enrich the chemical science enterprise. Project SEED started in 1968 and has had over 11,200 student participants. Our local section of the ACS (the North Carolina Section) participates in the program by providing 8-week laboratory experiences in local universities and industry. Our section further supplements this experience by providing counseling and support in college applications, applications for financial aid, helping the students develop presentation skills as well as by participation in science fairs and regional ACS meetings. The students are provided a stipend, part of which is covered by ACS. Our section raises matching funds to cover the balance of the stipends and to cover the cost of the staff who provide the counseling and support of the students as well as the expenses associated with travel and meeting participation. Our section typically sponsors ten students per summer and requires $20K to $30K to supplement what the ACS provides. This past year, students participating for the first time (Summer I) and returning SEED students (Summer II) both received a minimum of $4000. The cost of supplies or laboratory materials are not deducted from student fellowship amounts. Our local North Carolina ACS Section continued administering the program for 2023, thanks to the support of this three-year BW Fund SSEP grant ($52,430 per year).

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