Select Group of High-School Students Learns Science, Math at Penn State and Presents Research at Public Event
Students from the 2007 SEECoS group
Twenty high-school students who participated in this year's Summer Experience in the Eberly College of Science (SEECoS) program will present the results of their research projects on 23 and 24 July 2008 in 22 Deike Building on the Penn State University Park campus. The research projects cover topics in astronomy, biochemistry, chemistry, forensic science, and physics. The event is free and open to the public.
SEECoS is a six-week program designed for high-school students who want to explore their strong interests in math and science to a greater degree than is possible through their high schools. "The program promotes educational opportunities for low-income students by helping them to overcome class, social, and cultural barriers to higher education," said Mercedes Richards , Penn State professor of astronomy and astrophysics and a co-director of the SEECoS program. "Most of the students will be the first generation of college students in their families."
According to Richards, all of the students who have participated have graduated from high school and have enrolled in a post-secondary educational institution. "That's a success rate of 100 percent," said Richards. "Our goal is to increase the number of students who attend college and if they choose to come to Penn State, that's even better."
The students, who also are part of the Upward Bound Math and Science Program, spend their days attending classes in math, science, and English. Associate Dean of the Eberly College of Science Norman Freed said he is impressed by the quality of the students. "The students are engaged in their lessons and they ask thoughtful and relevant questions. Many are especially interested to learn what it is like to be a scientist and how a person can become one," he said.
Students who are interested in participating in SEECoS next summer can obtain information through the Upward Bound Math and Science Center at 814-863-1296 ( http://www.equity.psu.edu/ubms/ ).
CONTACTS
Mercedes Richards: (+1) 814-865-0150, mtr11@psu.edu
Upward Bound Math and Science Center, 814-863-1296