For the second consecutive year, Jackson State University partnered with Rice University and ExxonMobil to bring the award-winning Tapia STEM camp to nearly 200 Mississippi high school students.
The local community was well-represented with students from the Yazoo City School District.
The 2025 Carbon STEM Summer Camp, held from June 2 – 6 on JSU’s campus, is a powerful collaboration aimed at encouraging students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The week-long camp welcomed entering grades 9–12 to participate in hands-on STEM activities centered on carbon dioxide (CO₂) and its critical role in a lower-carbon future.
Through a partnership with Rice University’s Tapia Center for Excellence and Equity in Education, ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, and JSU’s Upward Bound program, students gained valuable experience in environmental science, public speaking, and collaboration — all while building skills that position them for future careers in STEM fields.
“Inspiring young people to pursue STEM careers is personal to me,” said Denise Jones Gregory, Ph.D., interim president of Jackson State University. “As a scientist and chemistry professor, I’ve seen how opportunities in science and technology can change a student’s path and impact generations. We’re proud to host this camp in partnership with ExxonMobil and Rice University, and we remain committed to building strong STEM pipelines that begin in Mississippi and reach far beyond.”
Throughout the camp, students learned about the science and engineering behind carbon capture and storage (CCS). They explored how CO₂ is captured and transported to geologically secure underground reservoirs for permanent storage using simple materials like Play-Doh, pasta, beans, water, and vegetable oil. Students built model reservoirs that mimic porous and impermeable rock layers to help them visualize how carbon can be safely stored underground.
