SUMMER CAMP REVIEW

Summer Student Theoretical Physics Session

Professor S. James Gates hosted the annual Summer Student Theoretical Physics Session (SSTPS) at the University of Maryland Department of Physics. The session brought undergraduate students from campuses across the nation to Maryland to examine a variety of theoretical physics concepts, including quantum gravity, string theory and M-Theory.

Gravitation, Astrophysics & M-Theory Session

Dr. Gates and the Center for Particle and String Theory also hosted a Gravitation, Astrophysics & M-Theory Session. With the support of both the Department of Physic and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, this program introduces undergraduates to string theory and related ideas. Dr. Gates, Dr. Rana (currently a post-doc here at Maryland), Dr. Alexander (Stanford University) and Dr. Tristan Hubsch (Howard University) taught a group of undergraduates from around the country.

Click here for a short video of the session.

July 7- Jult 18 &
July 21-August 1

Summer Girls Program

The Department of Physics hosted the 15th annual Summer Girls Program. An all-female team of faculty, staff and students introduced area 8th grade girls to the wonders of science with exciting activities, including developing photographs, making liquid nitrogen ice cream and more!

Click here for more information about the program.

July 7 - July 18

Summer Science and Engineering Day Camp

The Materials Research Science & Engineering Center (MRSEC), an interdisciplinary science center funded by the National Science Foundation and housed within the Department of Physics, hosted the Summer Science and Engineering Day Camp for students entering the 9th grade who are interested in science and engineering. Designed to help students get a head start on their high school science classes, students enjoyed hands-on activities that compliment the physics and chemistry curriculum at Maryland high schools. Some activities included building models of roller coasters, making silly putty and more. http://mrsec.umd.edu/Outreach/ScienceCamp.html

Science Summer Camp

The MRSEC also hosted the Science Summer Camp for area elementary school students. The MRSEC's GK-12 Fellows taught the children lproblem-solving skills, teamwork and just how fun science can be. The GK-12 fellows are a group of graduate students and advances undergraduates who, during the academic year, work as science consultants for Maryland public school teachers. http://mrsec.umd.edu/Outreach/SummerCamp.html

Roller Coaster Workshop

The MRSEC also hosted a Roller Coaster Workshop, a two-week summer workshop for high school students about the science and engineering behind roller coasters. Students learned about the physics of roller coasters and then designed and constructed their own model, which they successfully formally present to a team of judges from the University. http://mrsec.umd.edu/Outreach/RollerCoaster.html

Students from Northwestern High School got a head start on their fall physics classes with the Summer Math for Physics Workshop, run by the MRSEC's GK-12 fellows. The two week program used hands-on activities developed from the Prince George's County Science and Math Guidelines to teach physics and math concepts in fun, exciting atmosphere. http://mrsec.umd.edu/GK12/SummerMathPhys.html

Enrico Fermi Summer School

Together with Matilde Vicentini of the University of Rome, Professor Edward Redish organized and ran the Enrico Fermi Summer School in Physics Education Research in Varenna on Lake Como in Italy. The Fermi schools are an old tradition of the Italian Physical Society and this this year participants celebrated the 50th anniversary of the schools during the opening session. Speakers included the President of the Italian Physical Society, Nicolas Cabbibo as well as other distinguished guests.

The 85 attendees and speakers included 10 scientists from the University of Maryland: Professor Redish, Professor Hammer, Dr. Scherr (post-doc), Dr. May (post-doc) and Dr. Lising (post-doc), as well as physics graduate students Hodges, Gresser, McCaskey, and Russ. Five Maryland alumni (Lippmann, Wittmann, Sabella, Hodari, and Rosenberg) also attended.

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