Pixel International Conferences

Inspiring the next generation of scientists is one of the challenges that the scientific community is required to address. At the time of graduation teenagers, who have already proved themselves at school, are about to choose their academic path. While they may have profound confidence in their academic skills, many of them lack knowledge regarding science and research outside school. In this paper we will discuss the relevance and impact of integrating motivated and excellent science oriented youth into the core of the academia, the scientific research and the additive value of a boarding-school atmosphere. For over 50 years high achieving high school students and graduates are integrated into research groups at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Hence, students ages 16-19 conduct a research project under the supervision and mentoring of scientists (graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, staff scientists or principle investigators). Participating students become members of the research groups for a period of two to four weeks. Research projects may be related to either experimental science or theoretical one and may combine multiple methodologies and disciplines. They are engaged in the various aspects of scientific research from designing their projects, through planning experiments or models, via analyzing data, drawing conclusions and publishing the outcomes. Thus, students submit a scientific mini paper and present their projects in short talks at the final program's conference. The intensive scientific demand is supported by social and cultural activities led by the counselors, strengthening the bonds within the peer group and providing a comfort zone for growth. What is the impact of such programs on participants? Alumni of these programs describe it as a life changing experience. They report that they became familiar with the various aspects of the scientific life and research, including overcoming challenges, demonstrating determination, creativity and comprehending that research is a long process necessitating perseverance and collaboration. All these enabled them to make well-established decisions regarding their future academic career. They gained friends for life, peers who share similar interests and passions, and became a young community for personal and professional network.

Keywords: science, camps, research, academia, youth, excellence;

References:

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