Project Exploration

Project Exploration is a Chicago-based nonprofit educational organization founded in 1999 with the goal of broadening participation in science. Its work focuses particularly on girls and students from racial and socioeconomic groups that have historically faced limited access to scientific learning, mentoring, and career pathways. Rather than treating science as an abstract classroom subject, the organization builds sustained relationships between students, teachers, working researchers, museums, and educational institutions. The organization began after Gabrielle Lyon, then a teacher at Fiske Elementary School on Chicago's South Side, identified a need for students who were underrepresented in scientific disciplines to engage directly with scientists and authentic research. Project Exploration's programs combine after-school instruction, summer activities, fieldwork, leadership development, teacher professional development, and public-facing science demonstrations. Students may design and test their own research projects, investigate natural environments, participate in field expeditions, or work with museums to help younger children understand science. Its programs have included Sisters4Science, a year-round after-school and field program for approximately 100 minority middle-school girls. Participants conduct hands-on activities led by women scientists, take science-related field trips, and develop leadership skills. The All Girls Expedition provides a smaller, more intensive experience for approximately 20 girls, combining classroom preparation with field research. One documented expedition took students to Yellowstone National Park, where they studied geyser water chemistry, tracked coyotes, and explored a cave with researchers associated with Project Exploration and Yellowstone institutions. Project Exploration has also organized Girls Health and Science Day, a Chicago symposium for girls in grades seven through ten. Its workshops have addressed sexuality and tolerance, healthy relationships, self-worth, the female body, and self-defense, linking scientific learning with health, confidence, and personal development. For educators, the Science Teacher Field Institute has offered Chicago Public Schools teachers a three-week professional development experience involving classroom learning and fieldwork in geology, paleontology, and astronomy. The program has included work at Montana's Lost-in-Time Ranch under the supervision of professional paleontologists connected with the University of Chicago and Project Exploration. The organization has worked with the University of Chicago and other institutions to create collaborative learning relationships between students and professional researchers. Its activities have reached nearly 1,000 students according to the cited reference material, although the size and scope of its current operations should be verified independently. Project Exploration received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, announced in July 2009 and presented at the White House in January 2010. The award recognized its mentoring model and its contribution to improving diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Project Exploration is best understood as a nonprofit STEM-access and mentoring organization rather than a commercial brand. Its central positioning is inclusive, field-based, research-oriented science education. The organization seeks to make scientific participation more representative by giving students practical experience, trusted adult mentors, and opportunities to see themselves as researchers and future professionals.

Project Exploration was founded in 1999 in Chicago after educator Gabrielle Lyon sought to create more effective routes into science for students who were not being well served by conventional educational opportunities. Working as a teacher at Fiske Elementary School on Chicago's South Side, Lyon developed the idea that students should not merely read about scientific discovery but should work with scientists, ask research questions, collect evidence, and experience scientific practice directly. The organization developed an after-school and summer-program model centered on collaborative relationships among students, teachers, professional researchers, museums, and universities. Its emphasis on girls and minority students reflected the persistent underrepresentation of those groups in many scientific fields. Students were given opportunities to design investigations, test ideas in the field, learn from working scientists, and communicate scientific concepts to others. This approach combined academic enrichment with mentoring, leadership development, and exposure to possible educational and career pathways. As the program expanded, Project Exploration created several distinct offerings. Sisters4Science became a year-round program for minority middle-school girls, combining hands-on science with leadership activities and field trips led or supported by women scientists. The All Girls Expedition offered a more intensive experience for a smaller cohort, with classroom preparation followed by field research. A documented Yellowstone expedition involved investigations of geyser-water chemistry, coyote tracking, and cave exploration alongside researchers. Project Exploration also broadened its work beyond student programming. Girls Health and Science Day brought together female students from across Chicago for workshops connecting science, health, relationships, tolerance, self-worth, and self-defense. The Science Teacher Field Institute provided Chicago Public Schools teachers with extended professional development in geology, paleontology, and astronomy. The institute combined classroom instruction with field experience and used professional scientific supervision, including work at a Montana ranch associated with paleontological study. The organization maintained connections with the University of Chicago and other institutions, using those relationships to give students access to scientists and authentic research environments. Its programs were reported to serve nearly 1,000 students. In 2009, Project Exploration was selected for a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. The award recognized the importance of mentoring in the academic and personal development of students from underrepresented communities. The organization was honored at a White House ceremony in January 2010. Project Exploration's historical significance lies in its effort to change who is invited into science and what science education can look like. Its model places access, sustained mentoring, field experience, and representation at the center of STEM learning. Detailed information about later organizational developments, current leadership, program scale, and present-day operations is limited in the supplied reference material and requires further verification.

• 2010

  White House award ceremony

  [1]Project Explorationen.wikipedia.org

  The organization receives recognition at the White House for its mentoring work supporting students underrepresented in science and engineering.

• 2009

  Presidential mentoring award announced

  [1]Project Explorationen.wikipedia.org

  Project Exploration is announced as a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

• 1999

  Project Exploration is founded

  [1]Project Explorationen.wikipedia.org

  Gabrielle Lyon establishes Project Exploration in Chicago to connect students underrepresented in science with working researchers and authentic scientific experiences.

An inclusive, research-connected STEM education nonprofit that expands access to science for girls and other students underrepresented in scientific careers.

• After-school STEM and leadership program

  Sisters4Science

  A year-round after-school and field program designed for approximately 100 minority middle-school girls. Participants engage in hands-on science activities led by women scientists, take science-related field trips, and develop leadership skills through collaborative exploration.

• Student field research program

  All Girls Expedition

  An intensive two-week experience for approximately 20 girls. The program combines classroom preparation in geology, biology, evaluation, and field methods with a week of fieldwork alongside scientists. A documented expedition took place in Yellowstone National Park.

• Science and health symposium

  Girls Health and Science Day

  A one-day Chicago symposium for girls in grades seven through ten. Workshops have addressed sexuality and tolerance, healthy relationships, self-worth, the female body, and self-defense, connecting science and health education with personal development.

• Teacher professional development

  Science Teacher Field Institute

  An annual three-week professional development program for Chicago Public Schools teachers. It combines classroom instruction and field experience in geology, paleontology, and astronomy, with activities supervised by professional scientists and supported through private donations.

• Sisters4Science

  Chicago

  A sustained program using hands-on science, women scientist mentors, field trips, and leadership development to support minority middle-school girls.

  Outcome. The program was described as serving approximately 100 girls.

  Source
• All Girls Expedition

  United States · Yellowstone National Park

  A small-cohort field science experience combining classroom preparation with research activities in natural environments.

  Outcome. A documented Yellowstone expedition exposed participants to water chemistry, wildlife tracking, and cave exploration with researchers.

  Source
• Girls Health and Science Day

  Chicago

  A symposium bringing Chicago girls together for workshops spanning health, relationships, tolerance, self-worth, and self-defense.

  Outcome. The event provided a citywide educational forum for female students in grades seven through ten.

  Source

1. 1Project Explorationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Project Exploration official websiteprojectexploration.org