After years of working as a physician, Paul Rosen said to his
father one day, "I guess I could have been a paleontologist" to
which his father responded, "Well, no one ever said you
couldn't."
"He was right, of course," said Paul. "But it just never occurred
to me that I could become a geologist or paleontologist."
This memory appropriately reflects what Paul and his wife,
Harriet, both first-generation college graduates, have in mind for
teens today. The Rosens-longtime Museum volunteers-wanted high
school students to have the opportunity to discover their full
potential, so they provided seed money for a program called the
Teen Science Scholars.
The program is open to students in grades 10 through 12 who can
demonstrate through essay and interview their determination to be
successful and committed to science. The Rosens are especially
interested in recruiting underrepresented, inner-city teens, who
have the potential to be first-generation college students and an
interest in pursuing science-related goals but whose access to
resources may be limited or nonexistent.
The students participate in fieldwork and conduct actual research
that they present at a science symposium. Field expenses are
covered for the students, and they receive financial compensation
for the hours they spend on research and lab work.
Since the early '90s, Paul and Harriet have committed hundreds of
hours to the Museum as volunteers. Harriet, a retired health care
administrator, currently volunteers in Bailey Archives, and Paul,
also retired, has long volunteered for paleontology.
"We wanted something in terms of giving back," said Harriet. "We
are both really interested in science education. Not enough people
know about science today. Science is critical to our society, and
people need to know more to become knowledgeable and informed
contributing citizens."
Click here to learn more about
the Teen Science Scholars program.
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