BRITE Outreach

Overview

Exciting Results

BRITE Futures is the community outreach sector of BRITE and has been in existence since 2008. We provide STEM engagement opportunities for middle and high school students and teachers. To date, we have served more than 15,000 students (BRITE Futures K-12 Scholars) and more than 800 teachers from 92 of the 100 counties within North Carolina. We plan to reach the remaining counties within the next three years.

We provide STEM engagement opportunities throughout the academic year and the summer. Over the years, we have formed a number of partnerships with constituents such as the Golden LEAF Foundations, NCBC, the BPD (Biomanufacturing and Process Development) Steering Committee, Pfizer, and a number of community organizations, resulting in more than $260,000 in funding to support our activities. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate and partner to provide more opportunities for more students within our state.

Our mission is to provide opportunities to enhance STEM learning and engagement and information about STEM college programs, like the pharmaceutical sciences, scholarships, and STEM-related careers.

We aim to:

Increase the confidence and STEM identity of students with practical experience and engaging activities
Expose students to hands-on STEM learning and professional-grade scientific equipment
Enlighten students with information about STEM programs and STEM-related careers

We satisfy these goals through three levels of engagement with the BRITE Futures Program:

BRITE Visits

Teachers of middle and high school students have the opportunity to schedule visits to BRITE for their students. We typically host visits on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the Fall and Spring semesters. During these visits, students perform a hands-on laboratory activity; tour BRITE; learn about biotech careers, the BRITE program, and BRITE scholarships; and have conversations with scientists to learn more about drug discovery research at BRITE. Please note that we only accommodate 24 students at a time for hands-on activities.

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Biotechnology Summer Camps

Summer biotechnology camps are typically hosted each summer for high school students. Camps are typically for one week. Students learn about careers in biotechnology and innovative drug discovery research at BRITE and perform and learn real-world experimental techniques. This camp is ideal for students who are genuinely interested in STEM careers and pursuing STEM college programs.

Biotechnology camps are not available at this time.

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NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Summer Immersion Experience in Biotech

The NC GlaxoSmithKline Summer Immersion Experience in Biotech is a two-week, residential summer immersion experience to provide exposure to NCCU and its strong academic programs in pharmaceutical and clinical research sciences. We will host two sessions during the months of June (June 16–June 28) and July (July 14–July 26) for rising 11th- and 12th-grade high school students within NC. During these sessions, students will develop competencies via hands-on laboratory experience and gain knowledge of STEM college programs and careers, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and more.

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Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers

Professional development workshops are also offered for middle and high school teachers who are looking to learn innovative STEM engagement activities that they can use in the classroom. These opportunities are typically hosted during the summer.

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