The GEMS Program Student Applications Open on March 1st
The GEMS Program Student Applications Open on March 1st
February 14, 2024
GEMS stands for the Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science which is an educational outreach program supported by Fort Detrick, MD. The U.S. Army has funded this free-for-participants program to allow for all students to have the opportunity to explore their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) interests. The GEMS program's mission is to serve underprivileged and underrepresented students who may not have had the opportunity to explore hands-on activities in STEM. This program is designed for current 4th-11th grade students. In the summer of 2023, we served over 500 students in the community! For the summer of 2024, we hope to make a similar impact!
The GEMS Program will take place in-person at Hood College in Frederick, MD, Monday-Friday from 8:30am-12:30pm. There will be an optional virtual session on some afternoons. Students must be able to travel to and from Hood College daily. Students must wear appropriate lab attire (long pants and closed-toed shoes) every day to participate in the program.
All course offerings are detailed below. Please note that you can only select one class per year, and you cannot participate in the same class more than once:
Intermediate Science:
Open to: Current 6th-8th grade students
Description: Students learn biomedical and engineering skills that mirror our USAMRDC command foci including frog dissection, DNA extraction, and engineering and design.
Week 1: July 8-12, 2024
Week 2: July 15-19, 2024
Week 3: July 22-26, 2024
Advanced Science:
Open to: Current 9th-11th grade students
Description: Students learn more advanced biomedical and engineering skills that mirror our USAMRDC command foci including fetal pig dissection, DNA analysis, gel electrophoresis, and pandemic studies.
Week 4: July 29-August 2, 2024
Week 5: August 5-9, 2024
Earth and Environmental Science:
Open to: Current 4th-5th grade students
Description: Students develop their experimental and engineering skills to learn more about their environment and how to help it. This includes creating the best bubble solution to learn about surface tension, dissect a squid while learning about water quality, and explore alternative energy by building a solar oven.
Week 1: July 8-12, 2024
Week 2: July 15-19, 2024
Week 3: July 22-26, 2024
Sustainability and Environmental Science:
Open to: Current 8th-10th grade students
Description: Students investigate how to help the planet by using experiments and engineering to understand ocean currents, acid rain, and oil spills.
Week 4: July 29-August 2, 2024
Week 5: August 5-9, 2024
Engineering and Computer Science 1 (Battlebots):
Open to: Current 5th-7th grade students
Description: Students build, train, and battle robots. Robots perform boot camp, a ruck march, and a parachute drop.
Week 4: July 29-August 2, 2024
Week 5: August 5-9, 2024
Engineering and Computer Science 2 (Biomedical Engineering):
Open to:Current 7th-10th grade studentsDescription: Students use their engineering skills to understand prosthetics and brain injury along with other engineering challenges. Offered:
Week 1: July 8-12, 2024
Week 2: July 15-19, 2024
Week 3: July 22-26, 2024
Engineering and Computer Science 3 (Biofabrication and Commercialization):
Open to: Current 9th-11th grade students
Description: Through BioTrek, a project-based STEM learning adventure, students will learn about the science, manufacturing, and career opportunities in regenerative medicine and biofabrication. They will identify a real-world medical need, conceptualize a tissue-engineered medical product (TEMP) that could potentially solve this problem, and design a business model to deliver the TEMP to patients! For more information on BioTrek, please visit here.
Week 1: July 8-12, 2024
Week 2: July 15-19, 2024
Week 3: July 22-26, 2024
Week 4: July 29-August 2, 2024
Week 5: August 5-9, 2024
Crime Scene Investigation (CSI):
Open to: Current 6th-8th grade students
Description: Students solve a mystery by analyzing fingerprints, hair and fiber, blood typing, and DNA left behind at the scene.
Week 1: July 8-12, 2024
Week 2: July 15-19, 2024
Week 3: July 22-26, 2024
Week 4: July 29-August 2, 2024
Week 5: August 5-9, 2024
Student applications will open on March 1, 2024 and will close on April 14, 2024. Students will need to submit all of the following components by April 14, 2024 to be considered:
- An online application (accessible here starting March 1, 2024)
- A recommendation form (accessible through the online application)
Upon completion of the week-long program, students earn a stipend to offset the cost of food and transportation to attend the program.
Please call (301) 619-2382 or email with any questions.
