"Students and Teachers As Research Scientists (STARS) is a program, funded through the National Science Foundation, that introduces both rising high school juniors and seniors and their teachers to the various aspects of the scientific enterprise as practiced by successful scientists in academic, private and governmental research institutions.

Forty-eight rising high potential secondary school students and 24 science teachers have the opportunity to participate in research projects in anthropology, astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth science, engineering, mathematics, physics or psychology at one of the collaborating research institutions: Saint Louis University, Washington University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Food and Drug Administration, Monsanto Company, Boeing Corporation, or the Army Corps of Engineers. During this six week (plus an optional seventh week) summer program students and teachers do research in a community of investigators under the supervision of a practicing research mentor. Through teacher-student-mentor partnerships, participants apply various problem solving strategies to independent research projects, write technical reports and orally present their results in a seminar format. In addition, teachers prepare a detailed lesson and accompanying teacher guide based on the learning cycle instructional strategy relating to the use of the laboratory information from their research experience."