General timeline
October
Recruitment
Applications for the upcoming EnvironMentors cohort are due October 15th. Candidates will be notified of their admission in early November.
November
Welcome Event and Orientation
EnvironMentors high school students, parents, and grad student mentors are invited to the kick-off event. They will learn more about EnvironMentors, the curriculum, as well as the UC Davis campus and resources.
January to April
Research
EnvironMentors mentees will develop a research project with their mentors and are expected to contribute to that project at least 1 to 3 hours every week from January until April. In addition, they are expected to meet with their mentors on campus for 1-3 hours at least twice a month, but varying depending upon the need of their projects. A specific research plan will be developed between the mentors and mentees with the support of the EnvironMentors program organizers. The EnvironMentors program will provide logistical support for transport to and from campus.
May
Research symposium
Every year, the UC Davis EnvironMentors program hosts a research symposium during the spring quarter. The symposium is the culmination of many months of research and an opportunity for our high school student mentees to present posters that summarize their research projects to their families, friends, and members of the UC Davis community.
June
EnvironMentors National Science Fair
Students with the best poster presentations have the opportunity to present their research at the EnvironMentors National Science Fair, which is held in Washington, DC every year in late May/early June. They present their research and compete for college scholarships. The National Fair is an opportunity for students to learn more about our nation’s capital, to meet fellow EnvironMentors students, and learn the role science plays in environmental decision-making.
Special activities
- The EnvironMentors program offers college prep training for high school students to learn how to prepare a competitive college application and navigate the admissions process.
- The EnvironMentors program arranges field trips to local museums and natural resources to learn more about science and the environment. Additionally, students have the chance to participate in company tours to explore career opportunities in STEM.
