Ten of the 19 instructors for this summer’s programs are affiliated with Scripps Oceanography, with experts including scientists, postdoctoral researchers, graduate and master’s students, and alumni.
Scripps graduate students Dara Goldberg, Dallas Sherman, and Katia Tymofyeyeva will be teaching a class titled “Space Out,” in which students will learn about the earth, the planets in our solar system, and far-away galaxies. Students will also have a chance to design and build their own miniature spacecraft and plan their own space mission.
Sherman and Tymofyeyeva developed the “Space Out” class last year, and they hope to improve upon it this year, along with Goldberg.
“Last year I was so inspired by the curiosity, initiative, and excitement of my students,” said Tymofyeyeva, a fifth-year PhD student in the earth science program. “My biggest hope is that students will be inspired to continue exploring the earth, the solar system, and the universe when they leave the class.”
Fellow Scripps graduate student Paul Chamberlain is ramping up to lead a nautical arts-themed class for high schoolers this summer titled “Pirate Science.” Students will learn the elements of celestial navigation, sword fighting, weather prediction, knot tying, ship construction, and sailing.
“In a former career, I used to drive ships for a living and gained a real appreciation for the primitive navigational arts. I hope to share some of these skills and express them in the context of modern earth sciences,” said Chamberlain, a third-year PhD student studying physical oceanography. “I am at Scripps because I am passionate about understanding and communicating science. Teens have a lot of questions and enthusiasm, so I am excited to share what I know and draw inspiration from their curiosity.”
Scripps Geological Collections Manager Alexandra Hangsterfer will return to Sally Ride Science this summer to teach a class called “Messy Science.” Middle school students in this hands-on course will design, build, and test projects—and sometimes even eat them. For example, students can create edible earth layers out of Jell-O, pudding, cookie crumbles, and gummy worms. These interactive and often messy experiments teach students the scientific processes behind events like earthquakes, volcanoes, cloud formation, sea-level rise, landslides, and more.
“What I really hope students take away from this class is that science is really fun, from learning it to teaching it, and that all you need is an open mind and a sense of wonder to truly enjoy learning,” said Hangsterfer. “Last summer was such a positive experience and the endless smiles on the students’ faces was definitely a sign that they were having fun while learning. I can't wait to teach a new group of students again this year!”
Last year, a total of 453 students attended the academy, and a large portion of the attendees were scholarship recipients, receiving free tuition, bus service, and free lunch for those who needed it. The scholarship program will continue this year, providing access to quality educational opportunities for those in need.
In true Sally Ride fashion, the workshops will also incorporate real-life stories of vibrant women conducting research in each field. These examples will serve as inspiration to students and help make STEAM careers more accessible.
Kilb said she is looking forward to leading this summer’s programs, which are educational but also might entice students who wouldn’t normally take a summer class.
“The summer academy has an equal focus on science and fun,” said Kilb. And most importantly, she added, “no tests!”
Interested in learning more? Visit Sally Ride Science Junior Academy for full course descriptions and registration info: https://www.sallyridescience.com/junior-academy/.
– Brittany Hook
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