The Young Scientist Program
Science as a profession needs talented individuals from every source. Founded in 1991, the Young Scientist Program (YSP) is designed to attract high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds into scientific careers through activities emphasizing hands-on research and individualized contact between young people and active scientists. In addition, the YSP targets St. Louis City Public High School teachers with resources that facilitate inquiry-based learning in the classroom. Each year the program reaches hundreds of high and middle school students and teachers in the St. Louis City Public Schools.
A unique feature of YSP is that it is entirely run by graduate / medical students and postdoctoral volunteers from the School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. As students and scientists, it is our hope that sharing our enthusiasm for what we do will encourage younger individuals to also pursue careers in science.
YSP is currently supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Pfizer Inc, The Washington University Medical School Alumni Association, The Washington University Medical School Office of Diversity Programs, The Washington University Medical Scientist Training Program, and the American Association of Anatomists.