Two hundred students between the ages of 12 and 16 experiencing college life at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The 18th annual Science Summer Institute began June 16 and will run through June 27 at UW-Eau Claire. The program draws middle and high school students from across Wisconsin who are expected to perform at least two years above their grade level, said Sharon Hildebrand, coordinator of the Science Summer Institute.
Students take one class for five hours daily for two weeks.
UW faculty and community resource people teach the courses in astronomy, action electronics, physics, chemistry, psychology, computer architecture, biodiversity, supercomputer applications and veterinary medicine. Many students are staying in the residence halls during the two weeks but there are some students who are local and only come during the day, Hildebrand said. While staying on campus students are treated as university students and have access to the same facilities. The residential students are supervised by counselors and there are several organized activities offered, many of which the students help plan, Hildebrand said. The Science Summer Institute derived from the same background as the Summer Institute, Hildebrand said.