UR/LLE’s Broad Exposure to Science and Technology (BEST) Research Program

The primary goal of the Broad Exposure to Science and Technology (BEST) Research Program is to provide Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPoC) high school students with a holistic understanding of what is needed to sustain LLE’s research and innovations.  Students, and their teachers, within the Rochester City School District (RCSD), are introduced to various aspects of science and technology that support LLE’s laser science and appli­cations research. This broad exposure helps guide students in their pursuit of STEM fields and encourages them to explore the next generation of related jobs and careers.

The pilot for the BEST program was car­ried out at East High School during the summer of 2021. Four students and two teachers were exposed to different areas of science and technology such as optical microscopy, spectroscopy, holography, grating applications, liquid crystals, electronics, laboratory safety, and lasers. This broad exposure highlighted the technologies that connect electronics, optics, and chemistry to laser systems. The BEST group also participated in tours of optics and imaging–related departments at Monroe Community College, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and the University of Rochester.

For the second year of the program, five high school students and two teachers were exposed to a greater number of fields includ­ing high energy density physics, magnetics, acoustics, theoretical physics, data base management, graphic design, and the technology trades that support all research activities at LLE. On-site LLE tours with the Building Facilities, OMEGA Laser Facility, and Optical Manufacturing Groups, combined with hands-on instruction lead by LLE staff with a focus on laser science and engineering, provided students with a comprehensive understanding of the potential educational and employment opportunities available at LLE after graduation. The participants in the 2022 program will assist in expanding the number of BEST candidates next year to include a dozen students from a dozen different schools. Acting as ambassadors for outreach, they will help increase awareness of the BEST Program for RCSD teachers, students, and guidance counselors.