Center for the Study of Neurodegenerative Disorders

In collaboration with local high schools and the University of California, Santa Barbara, Dr. Cynthia Husted’s eight-year High School Mentorship Program allowed students to participate in biomedical research. The first four years were conducted in her lab at UCSB and the last four years were held at a Medicinal Plant Project on the private Dos Pueblos Ranch in collaboration with UCSB. During all eight years interns were required to provide a one year commitment that included a six-week summer intensive of 20 hours per week followed by 10 hours per week during the school year. The program included both educational and community service components. This paper describes activities during the last summer at the Medicinal Plant Project. This paper was written unsolicited by the high school students at the end of the summer to share their experiences from at the Medicinal Plant Project. A short video of the program is included.