SJB’s GENESIS Program, known as GENESIS, was created to give students an opportunity to pursue areas of study in which they have a passion or interest that would go beyond the traditional classroom learning experience. Students will work with a SJB Program Director and Project Mentors, to design GENESIS projects in a field of their own interest, combining their passion and scientific methods for real life experiences. Project Mentors may be SJB teachers, college professors, and/or professionals from the field of study who can share their interests and expertise with the student. 

Students in the GENESIS Program will learn and work in a challenging, supportive, high-tech environment where exploration, questioning, reasoning, and critical thinking are both encouraged and required. Upon completing the final level of the GENESIS Program, students will have developed their abilities and skills in:

• 21st century technology
• Writing, presentation, and communication
• Project management, time management, and leadership
• Research methodology and the scientific method
• The application of mathematics and statistics

The GENESIS program will also afford students an opportunity to expand their personal awareness and perspectives beyond their local community to develop a global social consciousness and a lifelong desire to learn through exploration.

The GENESIS Program is open to all students in grades 10-12. Students must be able to work independently, manage their time, meet with the program director and mentors, and communicate through the program website and email.

GENESIS students attend a program class each cycle.  If at all possible, these meetings will take place during a student’s lunch or study hall periods.  For students without study halls or lunch periods or students whose study halls and lunch periods conflict with the program teachers scheduled classes, these meetings may take place immediately after school.  At times, GENESIS students may be excused from another regularly scheduled class. Students are responsible for all material missed in these classes.  There will also be mandatory after school meetings several times a semester.

The GENESIS program is divided into three levels. Students apply in the spring of their freshman or sophomore year.  If accepted, they will enter the program at Level 1. 

Level 1 students begin the program in the summer before their Sophomore or Junior years. 

• Students will be required to attend a one week, in depth, introduction to the Research Process in July with a follow up in August.
• Students will study the scientific method in depth and learn how to review and critique other research studies. 
• They will learn the components of a scientific paper, how to write in APA-style format, and how to conduct a literature review. 

• The year culminates with an exploration into the use of statistics to analyze experimental data.  Level 1 begins in July and ends in June of the Sophomore or Junior year.

All students who have completed Level 1 can move on two Level 2. At Level 2, students design a research project of their own, working with the Program Director and a Project Mentor. These projects can be on topics in the Physical, Biological, Environmental, and Social Sciences.

• Students begin during the summer and conduct their research through quarters 1, 2, and 3 of the following academic year.

Level 3 projects will typically be undertaken by seniors who have successfully completed Levels 1 and 2.

• In Level 3, students may either (a) design a new GENESIS project of their own or (b) continue with a previous Level 2 project, taking the project to greater depth and breadth.
• Students will work with the Program Director and a Project Mentor. Mentors may be SJB teachers, college professors, and/or other professionals in their field of study.
• Level 3 Students begin during the spring semester of their Junior Year and continue through the summer, and Quarters 1, 2, and 3 of their Senior year.

Thank you for your interest in the St. John the Baptist GENESIS Science Research Program.

Application for admission to this program is open to current Freshman and Sophomore students only.  Please click here to begin the application process.

To obtain the three teacher recommendations required to complete the application process, first check with the Science, Mathematics, and English Language Arts teacher of your choice to see if they are willing to write you a recommendation.  If approved by the teacher, please forward them the link below via email.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

The deadline for submission of all required application materials is Friday, April 19th, 2021.  I am looking forward to reviewing your application materials.

Sincerely,

Mr. Bohman- Director
GENESIS Science Research Program

All Level 2 and 3 Seniors will be expected to participate in an “Evening of Research” scheduled in May.  Student researchers will prepare poster boards and be expected to communicate the results of their work to parents and staff of the St. John the Baptist community.  Level 1 students will attend and assist in the evening’s activities.