This free, intensive four-week program provides hands-on laboratory experience and exposure to cutting-edge materials research at a top-tier university, offering a significant resume builder for college applications.
The Penn Summer Science Initiative (PSSI) in Materials Science is a free, four-week intensive non-residential program for high school juniors and seniors from the greater Philadelphia region. Sponsored by the Penn Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), the program offers a deep dive into materials science through a variety of engaging activities. Students participate in formal lectures by Penn faculty, hands-on materials science workshops, and valuable lab report writing seminars. The curriculum includes projects, hands-on activities, and field trips to Penn facilities like the General Robotics, Automation, Sensing and Perception (GRASP) Laboratory and the Nanoscale Characterization Facility. Participants gain exposure to advanced materials characterization techniques such as scanning electron and optical microscopies, thermal analysis, mechanical testing, and x-ray diffraction. The program aims to spark interest in materials science and engineering, enhance STEM confidence, and provide practical skills beyond typical high school offerings.
A typical day includes formal lectures from Penn faculty, materials science workshops, hands-on activities, and potentially field trips to university labs and facilities.
This program is best for highly motivated high school juniors and seniors in the Philadelphia area with a strong interest in science, particularly materials science or engineering, who have taken chemistry and/or physics courses.
University of Pennsylvania
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