UB Launches New Summer STEM Program for Refugee and Underprivileged Teens in Buffalo

BUFFALO, NY — American companies often lament the lack of workers with the necessary expertise in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), not to mention emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. And the situation will only get worse. The United States will experience a shortage of up to 3.5 million STEM workers by 2025, according to a report from the National Association of Manufacturing and Deloitte.

Three faculty members from the University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and one from the School of Social Work (SSW) are working on a solution that also aims to offer a better future for young refugees and other low-income people. -income and disadvantaged populations in Western New York.

Their program, “Experiential Learning for Refugees and Disadvantaged Students in Emerging STEM Technologies,” recently received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This will fund the three-year Education Pathways summer program for underrepresented high school students in the fields of AI, cybersecurity, drone technology and the Internet of Things (IoT), which is a network of physical devices integrated with sensors, software and network connectivity, allowing them to collect and share data.

Beginning in July 2025, UB will offer free experiential learning for three summers to 90 high school students who identify as refugees, disadvantaged or low-income, primarily from Buffalo Public Schools. The on-campus program will leverage the expertise of UB computer science and engineering faculty and industry professionals in courses ranging from programming and databases to introduction to cybersecurity operations.

“This project aims to harness the enormous hidden talent that exists among young refugees and other disadvantaged populations in Western New York and provide them with the opportunity to excel in several emerging STEM technologies” , said Sreyasee Das Bhattacharjee, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, who is leading the project. “It also aims to train skilled next-generation workers in these high-demand fields. »

No specialized STEM background is required to participate, and students will be selected based on their fourth-grade math test scores on state tests. During the program, participants can choose personalized programs based on their skills and interests. They will be encouraged to present the work they complete during the summer program at regional and national science fairs and conferences.

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Das Bhattacharjee’s colleagues who were instrumental in launching the project include Shambhu Upadhyaya, PhD, professor of computer science and engineering and director of the SEAS/School of Management Master’s in Cybersecurity program, Wenyao Xu, PhD, professor and associate chair in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and Wooksoo Kim, PhD, professor of social work who is also co-founder and director of SSW’s Immigrant and Refugee Research Institute (IRRI).

“When Dr. Das Bhattacharjee brought to my attention a funding request for an inclusive experiential learning opportunity, the first thought that came to my mind was how to make our proposal innovative,” said Upadhyaya . “When I suggested that Buffalo’s refugee population was the one in need of immediate attention when it came to STEM education, they were all for the new thing, and we immediately began building the research team. »

Xu noted that the idea draws inspiration from established cyber education trainings for K-12 students that Upadhyaya launched 10 years ago jointly with colleagues at the School of Management.

“Through these free trainings, we were able to provide students from all socio-economic backgrounds with equal access to computers and the skills needed to navigate the digital world,” Xu explained. “It’s a very effective program.”

Build on existing community partnerships

According to Xu, now is an opportune time to capitalize on existing community partnerships with organizations that provide services to large numbers of new refugees who need digital resources and training. These groups are traditionally known to have limited access to STEM-related learning resources, particularly in these emerging technologies, and therefore remain underrepresented in these fields.

In addition to the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) and IRRI, other partners include the Karen Society of Buffalo and Lafayette International High School of Buffalo Public Schools.

Kim said that whenever she goes into the community to ask what IRRI can do to help its residents, she consistently receives two answers: better education and better job opportunities.

“Unfortunately, not all children have the same access to technology tools, which can create barriers to success at all levels,” Kim said. “I am very excited about this program as we aim to bridge this gap by providing a hands-on learning experience and mentoring resources.

Helping Students Understand Emerging Technologies

Das Bhattacharjee noted that the program aims to improve students’ computational thinking and computing capabilities by building on their foundation in mathematics and helping them gain an understanding of emerging technologies.

“For example, in our program we are trying to develop drone-based technologies,” Das Bhattacharjee said. “One of the main motivations for us to introduce this program was the anticipation of how drone-based technology will evolve in the coming years. It will be used by many industries, such as Amazon shopping and emergency medication delivery. The community requires a lot of manpower to operate these drones.

The effect of such intensive learning with mentors from diverse backgrounds is expected to have a resounding effect on the participating students and their communities, organizers noted.

“The impact of this program doesn’t stop with the future of 90 students,” Kim said. “Their brothers and sisters will see the participants become different people after this training. When students’ confidence and enthusiasm for learning increases, it will impact their entire neighborhood and community.

Additionally, spending six weeks on a UB campus will allow students to see everything the university has to offer, which could lead to increased enrollment in the future.

“While this program will not immediately result in a significant increase in school attendance in these communities, I hope to see positive results over the next 10 years,” Kim said.

And the ripple effects could extend far beyond Buffalo.

“This project, once completed, will have the potential to be replicated in other parts of the country with similar underrepresented populations and will be a win-win for society and the high-tech industry,” Upadhyaya said.