In response to heavy demand, the Office of Community Engagement and Outreach is sharing this initial list of K-12 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) research and experiential opportunities offered by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture.
If you are a UT sponsor of these opportunities, please send any additions or corrections to: engagement@utk.edu.
If you are a K-12 teacher, parent or student, please contact these offices or programs directly, as information may have changed.
Important note: our focus is on the program level. Due to logistical and liability reasons, we are unable to arrange individual opportunities for non-UT students.
UT STEM Experiences for K-12 Students
- Big Orange STEM Symposium: Panel discussions, break-out sessions, & STEM fair for students and their families
- Kids U: Summer Kid’s Camps at UT. Students in grades K-12 work with faculty, staff and graduate students in a broad variety of fields.
- UT Admissions: High School Visiting & Dual Enrollment. High school students may attend UT as part-time visiting students or dual enrollment students with the permission of their parents, principal, and school counselor, and the approval of the Director of Admissions.
- UT Extension’s 4-H School Year & Summer Programs. Includes a broad spectrum of school year programs, summer camps, clubs, and other activities, including a number that focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
- Governor’s Schools for the Sciences and Engineering. Five-week summer college credit program.
- Tennessee Science Olympiad. Check with your school as this is a school-based K-12 program. In grades 6-12, TSO involves coaching and practice throughout the year.
- CURENT Pre-College Programs. Includes Adventure in STEM (in collaboration with Nimbios and 4-H) week long summer program for rising 7th and 8th grade girls; The Young Scholar Summer Program- 6-week paid summer internships for high school students to do research; The Young Scholar Program (Academic Year) for rising high school sophomores, juniors & seniors.
- College of Engineering EDP: Pre-College Programs. Includes Technology Student Association TEAMS Competition (TSA); Middle School Introduction to Engineering Systems (MITES); Engineering VOLunteers for 9th Graders (E-VOL9); Engineering VOLunteers for 10th Graders (E-VOL10); and High School Introduction to Engineering Systems.
- NIMBioS Pre-College Programs: include Girls in Science (summer program for rising 8th grade girls);
- Math and Science Center (MSC). Designed to strengthen the math and science skills of participating students. Top participants are selected as Bridge Scholars and receive a scholarship covering all costs for college credit courses in the summer after they have graduated from their respective high schools.
- Smoky Mountain Field School . The Smoky Mountain Field School enhances public appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the natural world while promoting the idea of learning as a joyful and enriching part of life.
- Tennessee Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. TJSHS is an annual scientific research competition that gives high school students the opportunity to present original research in a public forum.
- UT Veterinary Summer Experience. Students work in a local veterinary practice in their hometown for six weeks and then spend one week in Knoxville as guests of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.
- 4-H Electric Camp fun-filled, rewarding adventure in electricity for 6th and 7th Youth will work with electrical specialists from across the state in learning centers. Camp learning center contains hands-on activities: youth can learn by doing. Campers meet 4-H’ers from across Tennessee and explore careers in energy, electricity and basic sciences.
Other resources in the Knoxville area:
- Watch for the Knoxville News Sentinel Summer Camps List, usually published in April
- STEMSpark: The STEMspark East Tennessee STEM regional hub serves Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union counties.
- Great Schools Partnership. Partnership of Knoxville Chamber, Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers, Knox County Schools and UT
- Knox County Library: Directory of Local Non-Profit Organizations Database, searchable by category
- Enrichment Alley : Database of summer learning experiences, school year programs, and other opportunities
- Volunteer Match Database of local volunteer opportunities; can search by both cause areas and suitable age of volunteer
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ (ORAU) Center for Science Education Variety of STEM programs for K-12 Students