Yale Bulletin and Calendar

March 8, 2002

Volume 30, Number 21

Funding renewed for program
to attract students to sciences

Funding of the STARS initiative, Yale's flagship program for broadening access to the sciences by identifying and nurturing talented students, has been renewed by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

STARS, an acronym for Science, Technology and Research Scholars, will receive support from the pharmaceutical company through the Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation, Inc., a subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation.

The STARS program, initiated in 1995 with support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, is designed to enhance the academic success of groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences and engineering. Support from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, which began in 1999, made it possible to double the number of participants in the program.

The program features study groups, research opportunities, strong mentoring relationships and the development of a cooperative community of scholars. The STARS I program supports freshmen and sophomores during the early and critical transitional years of their undergraduate education. The STARS II program provides juniors and seniors with the opportunity to have an in-depth summer and academic year research experience under the supervision of Yale faculty.

"Boehringer Ingelheim strongly believes there is no better avenue to finding solutions for today's medical challenges than by bringing together talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures and life experiences," says Peter Mueller, senior vice president of research and development at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

"Pharmaceutical companies thrive on innovation," he adds. "By identifying and nurturing science students early in their academic careers, the STARS program helps insure diversity and excellence in scientific research in the future."

A report prepared by Yale's Office of Institutional Research found that participation in the STARS program significantly enhanced participants' academic performance and the likelihood that they would go on to earn a science degree. Of all the factors influencing participants' continued interest in the sciences, STARS participation was identified as the single most important factor.

Each year, more than 100 students participate in STARS programs. This fall, 35 freshmen out of more than 60 applicants were selected for admission to the program. Faculty mentors, graduate students and advanced STARS students help guide the new STARS participants in biology, molecular biophysics and biochemistry, chemical and biomedical engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics and computer science courses.

Richard Brodhead, dean of Yale College, says: "The STARS program has a demonstrated record of success in encouraging talented students to persist in the sciences. The community of scientists of the future will be the stronger for the support STARS gave students at a critical early period in their education."

Brodhead adds: "Yale is proud to have joined with Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals to broaden access to the sciences and to promote the success of traditionally underrepresented students in the classroom, in research, in earning prestigious fellowships, and in admission to the nation's top graduate and professional schools."

The Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation, Inc. is an independent, charitable organization established in 2001 by the Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation, which is based in Ridgefield, Connecticut. The foundation's mission is to improve lives through innovative philanthropic contributions and donations of health care products and resources.

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., also based in Ridgefield, Connecticut, is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation and a member of the Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies.

Boehringer Ingelheim, which has some 140 affiliated companies worldwide, focuses on human pharmaceuticals and animal health.

T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

Alumna is new director of Yale Center for British Art

Writer Salman Rushdie ponders the effect of fear . . .

Former U.N. official calls for international effort . . .

Professor Kazdin will head Yale Child Study Center

Funding renewed for program to attract students to sciences

In Focus: Project Assert

Psychologist examines the making of 'memories'

D.C. mayor heralds dawning of the 'century of the city'

International meeting will assess status of women in physics

Women's Health Research wins grant for community outreach

Commemorating the Birth of a Nation

Benjamin Clark Jr., former manager in Yale's Dining Halls, dies in Texas

Yale Books in Brief

Campus Notes