UPDATE (January 2025): Unfortunately, the AISIESS program is on indefinite hiatus, since our NSF funding expired in 2017.
In the meantime, we encourage you to pursue other excellent programs such as:
University of Arizona’s Native American Science and Engineering Program
Native Like Water
UC Riverside’s Gathering of the Tribes
Girls On Ice
And many other programs, available on Pathwaystoscience.org
If you are a Native student interested in visiting and/or applying to UCI, please contact:
Huma Madinawala
UCI Undergraduate Admissions
hmadinaw@uci.edu
If you are a recent college graduate or current UCI PhD student interested in conducting climate and environmental justice research with Indigenous communities and other local partners, please consider applying to the UCI CLIMATE Justice Initiative.
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The American Indian Summer Institute in Earth System Science (AISIESS) is a free two-week residential summer program for Native high school students currently in grades 8-11. Participants will conduct field research and camp out on the La Jolla Indian Reservation, then travel back to the beautiful UC Irvine campus to experience dorm life while interacting with professors, college students and invited American Indian community members to create poster presentations relating to tribal environmental issues. This program aims to address the critical need for Earth and Environmental Science professionals within tribal communities.
The first week will be spent on the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians Reservation campground, learning about Earth System Science with Dr. Kathleen Johnson. The second week will be spent on the UCI campus dormitories, learning about the university environment, study skills, and academic preparation. The students will also design a presentation utilizing the skills they have learned while in the program. In the afternoons, they will engage in cultural workshops and activities as well as field trips and social events. The program will end with a symposium where students will present their work as well as a closing ceremony with awards for outstanding students. Presentation award winners will win an all-expense paid trip to a National Conference in the Fall. Parents and family are encouraged to attend the ceremony!
All students in the program will receive follow-up mentorship by UCI staff and students throughout their remaining years of high school, which will include guidance in choosing their coursework, financial aid, and applying to a university.
