Sanford PROMISE
Sanford PROMISE is the outreach arm of Sanford Research. We connect the communities in our region with cutting-edge biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research. Sanford PROMISE is the premiere medical research outreach program in the Great Plains region. Through community engagement and rural outreach, we promote science literacy and contribute to STEM workforce development by building awareness of biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research.
Our mission is to build awareness of biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research and its connection to the standards of care, through community outreach and engagement. We are dedicated to creating a science outreach program that stimulates learners to become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and the innovators of tomorrow.
Get the full picture of the Sanford PROMISE impact through this data dashboard.
Resources for educators:
- Lesson plans aligned with national standards, complete with educational slideshows, videos, and hands on activities that are tied to the cutting-edge science done at Sanford Research.
- Professional Development for educators. Registration for summer 2025 opens February 2nd.
- Classroom visits: Bring the PROMISE team to your classroom or bring your class to our state-of-the-art facility at Sanford Research.
- Borrow equipment from our Equipment Lending Library to use for free in your classroom.
- PROMISE Community Lectures are community events that highlight the work done at Sanford Research.
Opportunities for high school students:
- Biomedical Research Investigation Days are day-long immersive experiences in the PROMISE lab. Dive deep into a subject that is studied at Sanford Research on a no-school day.
- Teen Science Café is a group run by teens for teens. This group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at features a different speaker each time. Come to one or come to them all. Open to students in 7th-12th grade.
- PROMISE Community Lectures are community events that highlight the work done at Sanford Research.
- The Research Shadowing Program provides shadow opportunities to students 16 years or older and will give you a chance to check out the daily life of a research scientist.
- PROMISE Scholar Program- This 10 week program is open to students during the summer after their junior year. Applications open every November and close by the end of January.
Opportunities for middle school students:
- Teen Science Café is a group run by teens for teens. This group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at features a different speaker each time. Come to one or come to them all. Open to students in 7th-12th grade.
- Sanford PROMISE offers summer programs for middle school students including one day programs and multiple day programs.
Elementary
We spark curiosity and instill problem-solving skills in younger kids – while making science fun.
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Middle School
Students will dive into the basics of scientific learning and examine the “whys” of our world.
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High School
At advanced levels, we help students apply scientific concepts and take charge of their learning.
Start HereAbout PROMISE
The Sanford Program for the Midwest Initiative in Science Exploration (PROMISE) was developed to connect communities in our region with cutting edge science and research. In 2010, Sanford Research created an outreach program to provide science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) experiences for K-12 students across South Dakota and neighboring states...
Learn More About PROMISEBlog
Meet the Scientists Casey McKenzie
If you get a tour at Sanford Research, you’re bound to meet Casey McKenzie. As the most theatrical scientist on staff, he loves giving tours and meeting new people. Casey is starting his 13th year as a Senior Research Specialist in the Lee Lab at Sanford Research. The Lee Lab studies a rare disease called Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, which is a disfunction of motile cilia.
Working with the PROMISE Program: A PRN perspective
I am one year into working for the PROMISE program as their PRN research assistant. What was supposed to be just a summer internship has turned into an over year-long adventure that is ending as I enter graduate school for genetic counseling. I was excited to start this new journey in a field that I was not familiar with and the challenges it would bring. I was also nervous that I would be behind other applicants who had experience directly in the field. I shadowed and did my research on the field but was unable to find an employment opportunity within genetic counseling itself. So, with my science background and zero experience in teaching, I took a position within a science education program. Here are three lessons I learned while working at PROMISE that will help me be a better genetic counselor:
Meet the Scientists | An Interview with Steve Ortmeier
Is it necessary to continue learning after you finish formal education? It's a common misconception! One scientist at Sanford Research knows the value of continued education. We sat down with Steve Ortmeier, a former high school science teacher and one of the senior research specialists at Sanford Research to learn more about his career and continued professional development.
Resources
Transcription Translation Looping Activity
PrintableProtein synthesis is an essential part of understanding cell function and is a central part of life-science curriculum. This looping activity allows students to move around the classroom while transcribing and translating a protein.
Probabilities of Inheritance
PrintableThere are over 10,000 rare diseases that affect over 30 million Americans. Many rare diseases follow a Mendelian pattern of inheritance. This activity allows students to apply their knowledge of Mendelian genetics patterns and encourages them to research what is known about the diseases. The National Organization for Rare Disorders has information that can be used by students.
Using Punnett Squares
PrintableThis worksheet will apply classroom topics to real-life science.