Texas Tech to Host ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp

Written by Cory Chandler

Texas Tech University accepted an $80,000 grant to become one of 30 universities in the nation offering the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp in 2010.

The two-week camp offers underserved middle school students opportunities to engage in learning about sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities include classroom study, experiments, individual and team projects, field excursions and guest speakers.

Bernard Harris Jr., the first African-American to walk in space and a Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center graduate, announced the camp while delivering the keynote address at the 2010 T-STEM Best Practices Conference, hosted by the Texas Tech T-STEM Center at the Overton Hotel.

Texas Tech’s T-STEM Center will host the camp for 48-54 students living within a 50-mile radius of Lubbock.

The camp will provide hands-on activities with a focus on space science. This includes learning physics with rocketry as well as the science of space.  Also, the camp will focus on forensic science and biomedical and biomedical engineering topics.

Students must have an overall GPA of a B in math and science, and they must score at the median level to superior in standardized math and science tests to qualify.

The ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp is a program by the Harris Foundation, founded by Harris in 1998 to support community growth by focusing on the education, health and wealth of community members.