Students at 10 high schools will have new opportunities in studying science with the help of equipment purchased by Mississippi Valley State University.
MVSU recently purchased the equipment through a $1.2 million grant that fosters school partnerships. Leflore County, J.Z. George and S.V. Marshall high schools were among the schools participating. The others are Shaw, McClain, Humphreys County, Montgomery County, Ruleville Central, West Tallahatchie and Greenville-Weston high schools.
Students who participate in the mentoring program will get to use new technology through the model of catfish farming.
"This was a long endeavor to get this grant accomplished," said Dr. Abigail Newsome, assistant professor of biology and coordinator of bioinformatics at MVSU and one of the grant administrators. "It's very competitive."
The program, called Information Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST), was established by the National Science Foundation to address the lack of students going into the sciences.
MVSU approached nearby Scotland Fisheries a year ago to talk about the idea of a partnership with schools, said Wilbert Martinez, assistant manager of Scotland Fisheries. When they cme back saying they had funding, he agreed, Martinez said.
Scotland Fisheries has 4,000 acres in water alone. Students can perform activities such as checking water for chlorine, nitrate and other chemicals, he said.
The project will affect 1,500 Delta students in the next three years, said Dr. Louis Hall, an asociate professor in the Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health at MVSU.
