About Science Deep Dive
The Science Deep Dive program pairs MSP LTER researchers with Urban Roots youth interns, introducing them to hands-on research experiences that “dive deep” into the ecology of the Twin Cities and helping them identify pathways to pursue careers in science. Urban Roots and the MSP LTER Urban Contaminants Team launched the program in the summer of 2023.
Contacts
- Lindsey Kemmerling, University of Minnesota & MSP LTER
- David Woods, Urban Roots
- Reach out to MSP LTER Community-Engaged Research Coordinator, Jessie Merriam, for more information on the science x art engagement activities that support the Science Deep Dive program
Youth Engagement at Urban Roots
Urban Roots is a community-based nonprofit in Saint Paul providing paid internships and leadership opportunities to youth aged 14 to 20, in programs focused on habitat restoration, urban agriculture, and cooking.
The heart of Urban Roots is its paid youth internship program. Each year, through a partnership with Saint Paul's Right Track Program, up to 85 youth from Saint Paul’s East Side are employed in three program areas: Market Garden, Conservation, and Cook Fresh. During the summer, these internships provide youth with 15 to 32 hours/week of paid job experience and training. During the school year, youth meet twice a week after school and are often involved in events on the weekends. The progressive program model engages youth in career exploration, entrepreneurial ventures, 21st Century job skills, healthy living, community engagement, self-discovery, and more! In both the Conservation and Market Garden programs, Urban Roots also offers volunteering and service-learning for school, corporations, community groups, and individuals.
Science Deep Dive is a special program for interns who want to explore and apply scientific research to the work they do at Urban Roots. This program uses Rivoli Bluff Farm and Restoration Site as their learning laboratory—a 1.5 acre farm managed by Urban Roots. Each year, interns conduct small-scale research projects based on questions they develop from working at the site. In addition to youth-led research, they learn from a variety of researchers by collecting data alongside them and exploring ecological topics such as bee identification, plant-microbe interactions, and forest ecology. Science Deep Dive has also helps youth explore the intersections of science and community at the heart of the MSP LTER and connect youth to future opportunities in science and at the University of Minnesota.
Related Blog Posts
Diving Deep into Collaborative Research: Our Partnership with Urban Roots
March 27, 2025
By Lindsey Kemmerling, Postdoctoral Researcher with the University of Minnesota Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, and the MSP LTER Urban Contaminants Team
Postdoctoral Researcher Lindsey Kemmerling reflets on MSP LTER's partnership with Urban Roots, a nonprofit organization on the East Side of St. Paul focused on urban farming, conservation, and youth education. In 2022, Lindsey launched Science Deep Dive—a youth internship program that pairs MSP LTER researchers with Urban Roots youth interns, introducing them to hands-on research experiences that “dive deep” into the ecology of the Twin Cities and helping them identify pathways to pursue careers in science.
Partner Spotlight: Urban Roots & Science Deep Dive Internship Program
March 25, 2025
By Adora Thao, who served as a youth Intern and crew member at Urban Roots in 2024
For the first-ever "Partner Spotlight" feature, the MSP LTER invited Adora Thao to share her experience working at Urban Roots as a youth intern and crew member, and reflect on her partnership with the MSP LTER’s Science Deep Dive internship program. Since 2022, the MSP LTER Urban Contaminants Team has collaborated with Urban Roots to test its sites for contaminants such as heavy metals and microplastics—and explore potential remediation strategies.