The project extends for the full ten-week term of the School and teaches the student scientific research skills. The particular topics vary from year to year and are selected from both theoretical and experimental projects. The seminar series consists of sets of lectures, given by staff and visiting scientists, that focus on hot topics in physics. These lecture sets vary in length from one to five one-hour class periods. The seminar series runs for eight weeks with at most two lectures per day for up to four days a week.
Homework is very light.
On completion of this dual program, students receive three semester hours of credit from UNM for Physics 501. The grade depends on the accomplishments in the mentored research project and participation in the seminar series. The research project concentrates on investigating a specific scientific problem while the lectures look outward to explore fascinating new discoveries.