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High school research experience programs (HSREPs) provide opportunities for true science education and expose students to scientific investigations in laboratory settings. Various HSREPs models have been practiced to shape students' research understandings; however, a systematic comparison of the success, challenges, and opportunities of these HSREPs has not been gauged. This article compares the effectiveness of such science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) based HSREP models reported in the last two decades. We shortlisted seventeen studies on the most effective HSREPs and identified the characteristics of these reports. Results show that student research experiences vary depending on the structure of the model used and the nature of the laboratory setting to which students are exposed. However, there is a dire need to integrate more collaborative and customized research practices to accommodate more students in HSREPs. Additionally, intensive support, mentoring, and coaching are essential to provide students a comprehensive understanding to excel in their research career pathway. Finally, there is a desperate need for further studies to develop the frameworks that can help the smooth transition of high school students into research-oriented university programs.

The current study provides an insight into the thermal stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and the factors causing their degradation. To this end, a systematic stability study was carried out on n-i-p type perovskite solar cells involving mesoporous TiO2 layer. The samples were subjected to varying moisture and thermal conditions under light soaking while being exposed to long-term indoor (5000 h) and outdoor (75 h) harsh environmental conditions (i.e. 30%-80% RH and 40 °C-70 °C). To identify performance and morphological changes of PSCs after exposure to thermal stress, advanced characterization techniques including impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and glow discharge optical emission spectrometry along with I-V characteristics were used. The un-encapsulated samples exposed to high thermal stress (40-70 °C) show degradation in their efficiency more than 40% within the 75 h of thermal stress. In contrast, the samples that were kept at room temperature were found to be very stable over 5000 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]