"Overall it was just a great learning experience" one young alumnus said of Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics, a free, state-funded program for academically talented North Carolina students who may pursue careers in science and mathematics. These summer camps are offered at six college campuses across the state. "Rising juniors and seniors come together in residential settings for four weeks of intensive study," says Ragan S. Spain, a science consultant with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
Selection is based on academic ability and science and mathematics motivation. The courses, taught by university professors and master high school teachers, take students beyond the traditional boundaries of high school science and mathematics. According to Spain, "They learn experimental design, laboratory skills, instrumentation, mathematical modeling, strategies in mathematical problem solving, and exploratory data analysis. And they learn these basics while engaged in specific scientific and mathematical topics of interest to ...
