About DEVCOM ARL West

Started in April 2016 as part of the DEVCOM ARL Open Campus Initiative, DEVCOM ARL West is the Southern California hub of the US Army Research Laboratory. Our research focuses on Human and Information Interaction and GEMS students will be exposed to topics ranging from human-agent interaction, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality systems for training and soldier skills management. DEVCOM ARL West is co-located with the Army’s Institute for Creative Technologies, which is a University Affiliated Research Center at the University of Southern California (USC). Students will take-away concrete skills of how to do collaborative and multi-disciplinary work.

About Educators

Teachers interested in participating in this program can apply to become a resource teacher. You will be asked to work collaboratively with DEVCOM ARL scientists and engineers to provide instruction, supervise, and engage students in age and grade-level appropriate, hands‐on lab experiments and activities, based on current DEVCOM ARL West research initiatives. B.A required, experience in STEM or STEM education preferred.

GEMS RT Roles and Responsibilities.

About Near Peer Mentors

High-school- and college-aged students interested in participating in this program can apply to become Near-Peer Mentors. GEMS relies on Near-Peer Mentors (NPMs) to work alongside teachers and Army research scientists to provide inquiry-based, hands-on lab experiments and activities. GEMS NPMs will also be asked to help students access online resources that will be used by the students throughout GEMS, as well as helping to troubleshoot connectivity and other technological issues. GEMS NPMs receive a stipend based on experience and education level. Students must be at least 16 years old to apply.