Research Academy - Missouri

Research Academy Missouri immerses high school students in the rapidly advancing field of digital paleontology, where cutting-edge imaging tools are transforming how scientists study the fossil record. Over two intensive weeks, participants work hands-on with CT scanning equipment and computer-based segmentation software to investigate real research specimens from faculty collections. Students learn how technologies such as CT, synchrotron radiation, and X-ray fluorescence scanning allow researchers to ask new biological and evolutionary questions not possible with traditional methods. This includes revealing internal structures and preserved soft tissues of fossils that cannot be observed through traditional methods. Research Academy Missouri blends authentic scientific practice with structured learning: students read and discuss current research, meet with working scientists to explore academic pathways, and collaborate on inquiry-driven projects rooted in published paleontological research. Expert-led discussions help students connect their research experiences with academic pathways in science, echoing the Sternberg’s tradition of preparing young scholars for success in college STEM programs.