The Minority Science Outreach Program (MSOP) began in 1995 when Sidney Cambridge, a graduate student in the Mellon College of Science (MCS), introduced the idea of bringing hands-on science to students that are typically underrepresented in the sciences. Cambridge believed that science must be experienced to understand it effectively. He was able to get support from the MCS as well as from other MCS graduate students who volunteered their time as mentors and instructors.

After Cambridge graduated, Stacey Pharrams was hired to coordinate the program. During her tenure as Coordinator of the Minority Science Outreach Program at Carnegie Mellon University, Mellon College of Science, she has coordinated programs of organized interdisciplinary research that supports the participation of underrepresented minorities in the sciences.