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MAPSCorps Symposium Celebrates Young Scientists

July 31, 2023

MAPSCorps members walkingYoung researchers who spent the summer pounding the pavement and collecting data about their communities in Chicago, New York, and Rocky Mount (NC) will present their research during MAPSCorps’ 15th annual Scientific Symposium on Friday, Aug. 4 at Malcolm X College in Chicago.

The event, hosted by Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy and sponsored by Amazon, spotlights young people and their supporters who have played a crucial role in the Chicago Community Trust’s We Rise Together economic revitalization initiative and Argonne National Laboratory's South Side STEM Mapping initiative.

The free, in-person event is open to community leaders, policymakers, educators, and supporters of the initiative. It will also be broadcast live on MAPSCorps’ YouTube channel.

MAPSCorps is a national model for training and employing high school and college students to work in STEM as community data scientists. Participants learn how to track resources in their community by mapping everything from businesses and land bank properties to homeless encampments and vacant lots. The data are cleaned and made publicly available to researchers, community organizations, government agencies, and others.

Over the summer, MAPSCorps paid more than half a million dollars in wages to the researchers, all between the ages of 16 and 24. Amazon has sponsored more than $20,000 in scholarships for the participants.

“The financial support not only encouraged their engagement in vital research but also empowered them to take charge of their own futures,” said MAPSCorps executive director Nia Abdullah.

The symposium features youth group presentations, panel discussions, and an awards ceremony honoring top research teams. MAPSCorps participants will present their data findings, research, and innovative policy solutions, all aimed at making positive changes in communities.

“The symposium is not just a celebration of our youth researchers' accomplishments but also a testament to the power of collaboration between communities, local organizations, and visionary partners,” said Nicole Pinkard, the Alice Hamilton Professor of Learning Sciences in the School of Education and Social Policy and founder of the Digital Youth Network lab, where MAPSCorps is housed.

“Together, we have created an environment where young scientists can explore their interests, make meaningful contributions, and envision a brighter future for their communities.”

Event Details: