ATLANTA - GeorgiaChron -- This month, Science, Engineering and Mathematics Link, Inc. (SEM Link) launches the seventh cohort of its STEM Journal Club, part of its STEM Literacy and Research Program (formerly the Experimental Design Program). The program develops the STEM communication and literacy skills of Metro Atlanta high school students as they engage in scholarly research, analyze STEM journal articles, and explore disciplines that spark their interest in research. For their final project, participants create a podcast episode based on a journal article, to be featured on SEM Link's SEM Explained podcast (https://anchor.fm/sem-explained). The hybrid program offers digital and in-person learning from October through May.

The program aims to cultivate pre-college STEM researchers, starting with the development of their STEM literacy skills, the foundation for success in STEM. Its goals are to increase students':

• Self-efficacy toward becoming STEM professionals, particularly in research careers
• Ability to conduct scholarly STEM research
• Ability to communicate accurate STEM information to combat misinformation
• Ability to communicate STEM to diverse audiences

Designed for students interested in STEM research careers, each cohort is limited to 25 or fewer students. Six cohorts have completed the program since its 2020–21 launch. The program meets twice monthly from October through April, concluding in May with a podcast reveal and closing ceremony.

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Sessions are led by a graduate student or recent master's or doctoral graduate who has conducted STEM research and published journal articles. Students learn the components of journal articles; how to read, analyze and discuss them; and transferable skills such as note-taking. Guest lecturers who are STEM researchers introduce career pathways and the role journals play in research. Dr. Zakiya Whatley, a former professor turned STEM communicator and podcast host, guides students through creating their podcast episodes.

The program is funded by the Simons Foundation's Science, Society & Culture (https://simonsfoundation.org/science-society-culture/) area, which supports innovative programs at the forefront of public science engagement. The foundation also makes grants in Mathematics & Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Autism & Neuroscience.

"We are thankful for the Simons Foundation's support of this program. Developing STEM literacy skills is critical to success in STEM. However, it is a skill that is rarely taught intentionally in formal or informal settings. By creating this space for out-of-school-time learning, we help high school students build the habit of reading STEM journal articles and engaging in scholarly research. Along the way, they learn skills that strengthen their ability to do STEM research, from designing proper experiments to communicating their findings to diverse audiences," said Ms. Tokiwa T. Smith, Founder and Executive Director of SEM Link.

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