MAPS Education
Haskell Environmental Research Studies Institute (HERS)
This 8-week summer research program in Lawrence, Kansas, is led by faculty from Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas. The program is designed to prepare Native American undergraduate students for scientific and technical careers. Participants conduct research on climate and environmental change occurring in a Native community of their choice. At the end of the summer program and during the following academic year, interns have several opportunities to present their work at professional meetings, workshops, and symposia around the country, including the Society for Advancing Chicanos & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) or American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES).
Apply now for the 2022 Summer Institute!
The Ecosystems of Kansas Summer Institute
This workshop invites up to ten high school biology teachers from across Kansas to attend a week-long learning experience interacting and conducting fieldwork with MAPS researchers. Teachers participate in both large and small group activities focused on exploring outdoor environments and learning about the current MAPS research. In addition, participants will develop activities and lessons they can use in their classrooms. Interested teachers must apply to be considered.
Apply now for the 2022 Summer Institute!
Resources for High School Science Teachers:
Aquatic Ecology
Terrestrial Ecology
GIS Mapping
General Resources
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
We support several opportunities for undergraduates to conduct independent research at five universities across the state.
The Kansas Louis Stokes Alliance
for Minority Participation (KS-LSAMP)
In conjunction with the MAPS Track-1 Award, Kansas NSF EPSCoR is supporting the LSAMP Research Immersion: Pathway to STEM (RiPS) program. This is an 8- week program for KSU undergraduates and Kansas Community College students. Participants conduct independent research while working directly with a MAPS investigator in their lab.
Kansas Ecology for Elementary Students (KEES)
MAPS researchers and KU students visit elementary classrooms in-person or virtually multiple times a semester to teach small group hands-on ecology lessons related to the current MAPS research.
Contact Dr. Peggy Schultz for more information
Watch videos about the lessons on our YouTube channel.
Kansas Ecology for Elementary Students Resources
(English)
Videos from the spring of 2020:
What is Soil? Click here for Lesson Plan and Activities
Making an Origami Ladybug by Laura Jiménez
Springtime flowers in Eastern Kansas
Designing and Testing Paper Plate Wind Turbine models
Lesson on Reservoirs, Erosion and Groundwater and Streams in Kansas
Videos for the 2020-2021 academic year can be found on the
Kansas NSF EPSCoR YouTube Channel
Kansas Ecology for Elementary Students Resources
(Spanish)
Meet MAPS Student Researchers
Meet MAPS student researchers and learn why they decided to study science.
Diana Diaz, Florida Gulf Coast University undergraduate and 2021 REU participant
Hannah Nuest, University of Kansas undergrad and 2021 REU participant
Hannah Reid, University of Kansas undergrad and 2021 REU participant
Justin Oettle, Wichita State University undergrad and 2021 REU participant
Theo Michaels, (part 1 and part 2), a doctoral student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at KU
Laura Podzikowski, a doctoral student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at KU
K-12 science videos posted on the KEES YouTube Channel