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Project Exploration
950 East 61st Street
Chicago, Illinois 60637
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About Us



Ampolo interview with Gabrielle Lyon, Project Exploration Cofounder and Co-Executive Director


Interview with Gabrielle Lyon on Making a Difference, internet radio program

Q. WHAT IS PROJECT EXPLORATION?
A. Project Exploration is a nonprofit science education organization that makes science accessible to the public—especially minority youth and girls—through personalized experiences with scientists and science.

Cofounded by paleontologist Paul Sereno and educator Gabrielle Lyon, Project Exploration specifically works to

  • Create opportunities for meaningful interactions between science and the public—especially populations least likely to have direct access to science;

  • Equip minority youth and girls with the inspiration and tools to transform their lives by offering opportunities to interact with scientists and hands-on experiences with the wonders of science;

  • Connect students, teachers, and families with authentic science and practicing scientists to support lifelong learning, equal access to opportunity, and scientific literacy.

Q. WHO DO YOU SERVE?
A. Students least likely to get involved with science and underrepresented in professional scientific careers participate in our youth development programs—Services for Girls, Junior Paleontologists, and Dinosaur Giants. These intensive programs currently serve more than 250 students annually, ranging in age from 12-17.  We also reach more than 60 active alumni, ranging in age from 18-21, through our annual youth development programs and science leadership opportunities. Statistically, an estimated 85% of our students are from low-income families; 73% are female, 65% are African American, and 25% are Latino

Q. DO YOU WORK WITH SCHOOLS?
A. Our services for schools and teachers focus on offering professional development opportunities relating to “big ideas” in science and providing opportunities for students and teachers to meet and work with scientists first hand. In the summer of 2006 we will pilot a professional development field camp for teachers. This camp is designed to provide personalized experiences with science and scientists that will strengthen a teacher’s ability to teach science through skill-building activities that provide a scientific toolbox for classroom application.

Q. DO YOU ONLY SERVE THE CHICAGO REGION?
A. Our public educational exhibits and online initiatives currently reach more than two million people worldwide. Regionally, we have partnered with civic and cultural institutions—Garfield Park Conservatory, Navy Pier, Chicago Children’s Museum , and the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin—to provide high-quality educational exhibits at little to no cost. Internationally our exhibits have been viewed by families as far as Tokyo, Japan; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Leiden, The Netherlands. Lastly, through our online expeditions we provide regional teachers and their classrooms direct links to discovery as it happens.

Q. WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF PROJECT EXPLORATION’S PROGRAMS?
A. Project Exploration is a high-impact organization that has developed a track record of success at

  • Enabling students to graduate and go to college: 96% of the students who participate in our field experiences graduate high school. Additionally, Project Exploration students are 3.4 times more likely to enroll in a four-year college than a typical Chicago Public School student.

  • Placing students on a pipeline to professional careers in science: 34% of all students and 43% of all girls who graduate from high school as Project Exploration field alumni have gone on to major in science.

  • Creating educational revenue-generating entrepreneurial programs that enable access to science: Through innovative partnerships with regional and international cultural institutions, our educational exhibits bring the wonders of discovery all over the world while generating revenue that complements our fundraising efforts.

 

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