Scientists in the Schools (SIS) is based on the belief that students who work with a diversity of scientists from the earliest of years and regularly throughout their entire school career, become enthused about working as a scientist or a technician in fisheries, aquaculture, wildlife sciences, biomedical sciences, or other STEM professions. 

Funding through USDA and University of Alaska, Southeast (UAS), has made possible educational collaborations with scientists so that all grade levels, pre K – 12, interact in experiential learning units with scientists eager to participate in creative outreach.  Scientists supported by this funding work in 9 different schools and over 73 different classrooms during each school year.  The SIS program deliberately builds understandings and enthusiasm with multiple lesson days so that over 3000 lesson days were recorded in the past school year.   

Does SIS make a difference?  The numbers say “yes”.  Each year, State Science Standards Based Assessments show that more of Sitka’s students are advanced or proficient in science compared to the rest of Alaska.  Additionally, in the 2017-2018 school year, 6 of the BLaST Scholars (students receiving full-ride scholarships) at University of Alaska, Fairbanks are graduates from Mount Edgecumbe High School or Sitka High School.  SIS is successful in establishing broad understandings of scientific concepts and processes among school age youth and in increasing engagement of students in science fields.