COSAM News Articles 2024 06 High school students explore diverse topics in science during elevated educational experience at Summer Science Institute 2024

High school students explore diverse topics in science during elevated educational experience at Summer Science Institute 2024

Published: 06/18/2024

By: Jess Gilpin

Sixteen rising juniors and seniors representing fourteen high schools across Alabama and Georgia completed a week-long Summer Science Institute, or SSI, held June 2-8, 2024, on Auburn University’s campus. Hosted by the STEM Outreach Center in the College of Sciences and Mathematics, or COSAM, the institute is a science program held annually for students with a high aptitude and interest in the fields of science and math.

Summer Science Institute partners our visiting high school scholars with over 20 Auburn University science and math research faculty to engage in topics more advanced than what is typically taught in a public or private high school environment. Through lab instruction and unique, hands-on learning opportunities, they get to explore cutting-edge science in research areas across COSAM’s five departments.

This year, institute scholars experienced atmospheric chemistry testing, wild bird study field work, modeling experimental data of the universe, a herpetology hunt in Tuskegee National Forest, solar energy experiments, using the physics of musical instruments to design and make a flute, and much more. With COSAM graduate students and an upper-level undergraduate student as their camp counselors, SSI Scholars received a week-long glimpse of campus life. During their time on campus, students were housed in campus dorms and ate at the Melton Student Center and the Edge, just like college students.

In one lab session led by Hong Zhao, assistant professor of physics, scholars learned about space weather with an interactive tutorial and trivia. From degrading power grid operations to modifying signals from radio navigation systems, they learned the importance of space weather and how to deal with the challenges associated with it. Zhao is one of eleven faculty members that provided financial support for the program through their National Science Foundation Grant broader impacts.

One scholar mentioned in their post survey, “I genuinely enjoyed every experience. Not only have I learned a myriad of things about science and mathematics, but I learned more about the college application process, how college-life is, new people I have met, etc. It has been such an amazing experience, and I will hold these memories for a very long time. I am truly grateful to have been chosen for this, and I am very thankful for everyone that has worked on this for providing us with such an amazing week.”

A fellow 2024 SSI scholar said, “I appreciated how our days were packed with STEM-related activities. Initially, I anticipated that I would be spending hours alone in my dorm in the evenings, but I valued the activities that helped me build both science knowledge and relationships with my peers.”

Students residing in Alabama or Georgia and entering their junior or senior year of high school are eligible to apply to SSI annually starting in October, and a limited number are chosen on an academically competitive basis. Participants attend at no cost with fees financed by grants and other sponsoring organizations at Auburn University.

To learn more about the program, visit the Summer Science Institute website or contact Jessica Gilpin, assistant director, COSAM STEM Outreach Center at jag0038@auburn.edu.