GSSM to host Global Science Workshops to Expand Student Research Opportunities

GSSM to host Global Science Workshops to Expand Student Research Opportunities

HARTSVILLE, S.C. — A global cohort of students and educators will gather at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics for a series of intensive workshops designed to introduce participants to advanced scientific research.

Running from June 1-6, the initiative, developed under GSSM’s Center for Research, Global, and Innovation Initiatives, will prepare the state's top STEM students for the global nature of modern scientific inquiry by highlighting how diverse cultural perspectives drive discovery.

“While science is universal, different cultures approach scientific inquiry in unique ways,” said Dr. Neval Erturk, GSSM Executive Director for Research, Global, and Innovation Initiatives. “These workshops will give our students firsthand experience engaging with a truly global scientific community, teaching them how to collaborate across cultural boundaries to solve complex problems.”

Teacher and student mentors from Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic will team up with more than 20 GSSM students for workshops to provide research opportunities and direct engagement with international research practices. This global expansion strengthens South Carolina’s STEM pipeline and ensures GSSM graduates are globally competitive.

GSSM President Danny Dorsel emphasized the long-term impact these global initiatives have on the school's mission to cultivate the next generation of innovators.

“At GSSM, our mission is to find South Carolina’s most talented students and give them transformational experiences that push them beyond their comfort zones,” said Dorsel. “Science no longer happens in a vacuum or within a single country's borders. By introducing global perspectives early in their academic journeys, we are giving our students the critical tools, adaptability, and mindset they need to lead international research and innovation in the future.”

The initiative will officially kick off with an opening ceremony at 9 a.m. on June 1 in the school's gymnasium. The event will feature keynote addresses from Dr. Rebecca Gunnlaugsson, chief of staff for the South Carolina Department of Education, and Erin Ford, executive vice president and COO of SCbio. Both speakers will address the vital role of global collaboration in advancing South Carolina's economic and educational future.

As part of the program, Clemson Pee Dee Research & Education Center will host students for research laboratory visits, giving participants the opportunity to tour labs where applied agricultural and scientific research is conducted. Dr. Sachin Rustgi of Clemson University will provide the closing remarks, connecting the week’s experiences to broader themes of research, innovation, and global scientific partnership.