Institute for Genome Sciences
STEM & Community Events

IGS Instills a Passion for Science in Even Our Young Community Members

At IGS, one of our favorite things is hosting STEM programs for young participants. 

Our high school programs:

IGS High School Summer Bioinformatics Program

    * A four- to five-week hybrid program run much like a short course. Consists of a combination of synchronous online sessions and in-person "lab days." Visit the program site for more information. 

Maryland Microbiome Project

    * A field trip opportunity for local high schools in Baltimore. Groups of students visit our institute for a full day of    activities built around learning about microbiomes (communities of microscopic organisms that live around and within us) and their importance to environmental and human health. The day includes hands-on activities such as DNA extractions, microbiome sampling simulations, field sampling of soil (which contains a very complex set of microbes), and data analysis. Teachers: if you are interested in bringing your class to visit IGS please contact us at igs_outreach@som.umayland.edu.

A campus-level program that IGS participates in:

  • UMB CURE Scholars Program  - The UMB Continuing Umbrella for Research Experiences (CURE) mentoring program seeks to provide scientifically enriching programs for 6 to 12 grade students from West Baltimore. IGS participates in the summer camp portion of this program. Middle school CURE scholares spend a week at IGS engaging in hands-on activities that teach the basics of DNA structure and function, cell structure, genetics, ecology, and much more. Please visite the CURE site to learn more. 

For more information on any of our STEM outreach programs, contact: igs_outreach@som.umaryland.edu.