ACS Project SEED Program

What Is Project SEED?

On April 4, 1968 the ACS Council passed a resolution “to take the appropriate steps to ease the problems of underprivileged segments of the nation’s population, particularly in relation to lack of education and unemployment”; a resolution in response to one of the most turbulent years of the 20^th century, fueled by racial tension, segregation, police brutality, lack of employment and opportunity for all.  The ACS wisely recognized the toll that the political and social unrest could take in terms of the future of the chemical sciences: depriving underprivileged people from access to education and employment, and the chemical industry from the potential contributions by this growing pool of individuals.  From this, Project SEED (originally “Summer Experiences for the Economically Disadvantaged”) was born and has flourished.

More than 50 years later, Project SEED has grown and diversified its services of providing hands-on summer research experiences (8 – 10 weeks) and virtual summer camps to more than 11,000 students in 40 U.S. states and territories.  Each year, the program supports 350+ students with research opportunities with qualified mentors in both academia and industry, as well as providing a virtual summer camp to students focusing on college readiness and professional development, lab preparedness, and exposure to chemistry-related career paths.

Project SEED Mission

To provide sustained STEM research, learning, and growth opportunities for high school students with diverse identities and socioeconomic backgrounds so they can be empowered to advance and enrich the chemical science enterprise.