Www.ssp.org Copyright © 2003, Summer Science Program, Inc., all rights reserved.

www.ssp.org

Copyright © 2003, Summer Science Program, Inc., all rights reserved

www.ssp.org

What is SSP?

Six-week residential program

Astronomy-based curriculumHands-on research project: observe an asteroid and determine its orbit

Lectures, field trips,

guest speakers,

recreation

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What is SSP?

36 students in each of two campuses: Socorro, New Mexico (campus of

New Mexico Tech) Ojai, California

(campus of a private

boarding school)

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What is SSP?

Neither grades nor formal creditAcademic and social aspects equally importantMore like graduate

school than high school

Residential faculty 2 PhDs 4 teaching assistants (graduate students)

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Mission

Immerse, challenge, and intrigue students

Expose them to real science and working scientists

Surround them with equally

bright and motivated peers

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Curriculum

The Orbit Determination Three-member observing teams Select an asteroid 3 or more telescopic observations

• photographic exposures• CCD camera images

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Curriculum

The Orbit Determination Precisely measure

position of asteroid relative to nearby stars

Write program to calculate mathematical description of the orbit

Submit results to Minor Planet Center at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

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Curriculum

Astronomy• Observational technique• Celestial mechanics• Solar system, stellar, and galactic astronomy• Cosmology

Computer programming• IDL language• image processing

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Curriculum

Physics• Mechanics• Optics• Relativity• Modern physics

Mathematics• Spherical trigonometry• Differential and integral

calculus• Vector analysis

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Curriculum

Guest SpeakersAbout two dozen prominent

• Scientists• Educators• Business Leaders

Many are SSP alumni Informal reception

following each talk

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Curriculum

Recent guest speakers include:• Dr. Leon Lederman, Director Emeritus,

FermiLab (Nobel Laureate in physics)

• Mr. Mitch Kapor (SSP '66), founder of Lotus Development Corp., designer of Lotus 1-2-3

• Dr. Maarten Schmidt, Prof. of Astronomy Emeritus, Caltech (discoverer of quasars)

www.ssp.orgSSP Changes Lives

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SSP Changes Lives

Community of scholars Tackle the research in teams Cooperation, not competition

Active support network Help and advice on college admissions Classmates keep in touch

long after the program

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SSP Changes Lives

Recent alumni write:“SSP was an absolutely amazing experience. Not

only did I learn, study, and observe at a frantic pace, but I also got to enjoy the company of my bright and funny classmates.” –Greg Chanan

“I never knew learning could be so challenging or so exciting.” –Melissa Latham

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SSP Changes Lives

Recent alumni write:“SSP pushed me so far beyond the limits of a high

school education and experience that I feel as if I do not need another year of high school.

SSP is the turning point in my life.”

–Evelyn Cheung

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SSP Changes Lives

www.ssp.org

SSP Changes Lives

www.ssp.org

SSP Changes Lives

Summary of benefits Personal growth in a supportive community Interaction with working scientists and

graduate students Help students choose a college and field of

study Worldwide network

of peers and mentors

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Socorro Campus

Campus of New Mexico Institute of Technology 80 miles south of Albuquerque

Field trips to Very Large Array (of radio telescopes), Apache Point Observatory

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Ojai Campus

Campus of Happy Valley School (a private boarding school) 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles

Field trips to NASA’s

Jet Propulsion Lab,

Mt. Wilson Observatory

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AdmissionsOpen to current juniors and

exceptional sophomores

Prerequisites either physics, chemistry, or biology math through at least trigonometry

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Admissions

Program fee covers room, board, tuition, supplies (see application for amount)

Need-based financial aid

No application fee

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Admissions

Application and instructions at www.summerscience.org

Deadlines in February (first round) and March

Start your application

online today!

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www.ssp.org