To continue the professional development of our participants the Center has implemented new and innovative experiences through the Graduate and Undergraduate Students Enhancing Science and Technology in K-12 Schools (GUEST K-12) program. This program is active since summer 2001 sponsored by the National Science Foundation. GUEST K-12 coordinates and reinforces the partnership between the SONW Educational Center and K-12 schools by integrating highly qualified undergraduate and graduate students to serve as mentors and trainers in K-12 classrooms. GUEST k-12 currently supports graduate and undergraduate students from the Departments of Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Geology, and Marine Sciences. 

The mission of the GUEST K-12 program is to improve University students’ communication skills and educational experiences. This professional development is provided through the integration with pre-college teachers and by performing presentations in schools and receiving visits at the Center facilities. The knowledge and skills gained by understanding scientific and mathematical concepts empower fellows, teachers, and students to explore other concepts not included within the original scope of their learning process

The inclusion of hands-on activities and graphic calculators can immediately permits participants to observe and analyze their experimental results as a function of time and other independent variables. Thus, the fellows, teachers, and K-12 students are exposed to a more complete education.  The integration of GUEST K-12 fellows to the Center has produced an increase of 5 Saturday academies for teachers per semester, 120 visits to K-12 classrooms and more than 20 additional visits to our facilities on the university campus, and more than 2500 students.