About

The Gemstone Program at the University of Maryland is a unique multidisciplinary four-year research program for selected undergraduate Honors College students of all majors. Under the guidance of faculty mentors and Gemstone staff, teams of students design, direct, and conduct significant research, often but not exclusively exploring the interdependence of science and technology with society.

Gemstone was born out of a challenge to the status quo in undergraduate education, first in engineering, then in STEM, and now across the university writ large. At most universities, it is the job of undergraduate students to learn things that many other people already know, essentially to fill their toolboxes with tools. Only after they have completed that task, and are in some sense credentialed in their field, do they allow for the possibility that these people might also be capable of creating knowledge, of pushing the envelope, of discovering new things, and perhaps changing what will constitute the fundamental knowledge that must be acquired in a given field. Gemstone turned that idea on its head. It had the vision, over 25 years ago, to say that there were some students in our undergraduate population who could think big thoughts earlier than we were giving them credit for. They could learn subjects faster than the pace we had designed for them. They could learn topics more advanced than the standard curriculum presumes. They could have the courage to step into unknown realms, and make novel inquiries, novel discoveries, novel syntheses, and draw novel conclusions. They could work as teams, with guidance from mentors and librarians, to accomplish scholarly feats typically reserved for graduate students, and they could do so while maintaining the highest standards of research integrity, research ethics, inclusivity, and scientific methodology. And that vision, from 25 years ago, was not wrong, because we have students doing just these things. We’re one of the only universities in the country with a program like this.

-- Prof. David Lovell, Director, Gemstone Honors Program

Gemstone students are members of a living-learning community comprised of fellow students, faculty, staff, and alumni who work together to enrich the undergraduate experience. This community challenges and supports the students in the development of their research, teamwork, communication, and leadership skills. In the fourth year, each team of students presents its research in the form of a thesis to experts, and the students complete the program with a citation and a tangible sense of accomplishment.

Mission

The Gemstone Honors Program engages students in a rigorous and rewarding undergraduate research experience utilizing a multidisciplinary team approach. In partnership with extraordinary faculty, Gemstone research teams advance knowledge and explore society’s urgent questions. The Gemstone Honors Program challenges and supports student growth and learning in a community that values leadership, mentoring, and relationship building.

Our Commitment

We are committed to the development of scholars and leaders. Our efforts are focused on holistic student development, both inside and outside the classroom. We value qualities of mutual respect, intellectual excitement, collaboration, and diversity of thought. We strive to give our students transferable skills that will be valuable for wherever life leads them. We recognize and acknowledge that this is lifelong work. We are committed to working together as a community to help create a better, more just world.