IRISE Research & Discovery Science (IRISE-RDS)
Research with Professor Jenkins
Join the Vitamin C Project Today!
IRISE Research and Discovery Science (IRISE-RDS) is a STEM initiative that partners scientists with teachers, church leaders, and community centers to support K-12 science/math curricula through hands-on, real-world, original research experiences for students. Our research projects fuel exploratory learning across a wide range of disciplines, including but not limited to chemistry, mathematics, scientific reading, and writing. Professor Jenkins or another practicing scientist will come to your class or designated location to conduct original research projects with youth in your class or community. All projects are done with "household chemicals." The Vitamin C project incorporates a wide range of curriculum standards that are adjusted to the grade level of the student participants.
The main goals of IRISE-RDS's are as follows:
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Partner scientists with K-12 teachers and students to conduct hands-on virtual and/or on-location research projects that can be presented at science fairs, professional conferences, or published in academic journals.
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Provide affordable, assessable, and sustainable research opportunities for teachers, students, and school systems serving under-represented populations.
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Expose students to scientific research at an early age.
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Provide "real-world" application of math and science principles/standards.
IRISE-RDS Boot Camp - LaPorte County Indiana Libraries
IRISE Research & Discovery Boot Camps - Juniper Level, June 24-25, 2022
About
Professor Sharron Jenkins
Dr. Jenkins earned a doctorate's degree in chemistry (biophysical chemistry major) in 1997 from Loyola University Chicago. Today she is a full professor of chemistry at an institution in America. During her tenured professorship at Purdue University North Central (now Purdue Northwest), she served as Co-Pi on a multi-million-dollar NSF-funded program designed to recruit and retain youth in the sciences. She has published several research papers with college students; and now, she's giving back, reaching beyond the college campus and taking research on the road. Dr. Jenkins has been training young minds in the classroom and the lab for over 25 years. She's even taught K-12, and believes kids can take part in publishable research!
