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 Each
February, LLE invites area high school juniors to apply to our
summer research program. Selected applicants are teamed with staff
advisors and spend eight weeks working on individual research
projects. These projects culminate in a symposium where the students
present their research findings to family, teachers, and members
of the Laboratory's scientific and technical staff. Fifteen students
participated in 2003—this is the second year LLE has hosted
a group this large.
The goal of LLE's Summer High School Research Program is to excite a
group of high school students about careers in the areas of science and
technology by exposing them to research in a state-of-the-art environment.
Too often, students are exposed to "research" only through
classroom laboratories, which have prescribed procedures and predictable
results. In LLE's summer program, the students experience many of the
trials, tribulations, and rewards of scientific research. By participating
in research in a real environment, the students often become more excited
about careers in science and technology. In addition, LLE gains from
the contributions of the many highly talented students who are attracted
to the program.
Three 2003 program participants have been selected as semifinalists in
the Intel Science Talent Search—a competition often regarded as
a "Junior Nobel Prize." Nadine Lippa, of Byron-Bergen High
School, Rohan Kekre of McQuaid Jesuit High School, and Anthony Noto of
Greece Athena High School are among the 300 students nationwide chosen
as semifinalists from the record 1652 students who entered. Lippa's research
used individual photons to transmit data, as opposed to a steady beam
of light. Kekre sought a more efficient method for converting OMEGA’s
laser beams from infrared to ultraviolet. Noto created a computer model
to measure the chirality of molecules. In recognition of these scientific
achievements, each student will receive $1000 and their high schools
will receive $1000 to support their science and math programs.
We are proud of all our Summer High School Research Program participants,
past and present. We look forward to continuing our mission of education
by introducing young adults to scientific research.
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Michael
Carges