Laboratory supports summer science program

Contact: Hildi Kelsey, hkelsey@lanl.gov, (505) 665-8040 (05-006)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Feb. 4, 2005 -- In an effort to give more students "the educational experience of a lifetime," Los Alamos National Laboratory's Chief Science Officer, Thomas Bowles announced today that the Lab will pay the full $3,200 program fee for New Mexico students accepted to the Summer Science Program (SSP). The program application deadlines are Feb. 25 (first round) and March 25 (final). Students and teachers can obtain more information and an application at www.summerscience.org online.

The SSP is a six-week residential enrichment program for high school students, sponsored in part by the Laboratory and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech). Hosted on New Mexico Tech's campus in Socorro, the program attracts some of America's top science students to New Mexico each summer.

During six intense weeks, students spend their days learning college-level vector calculus and astrophysics while their nights are reserved for working in teams of three to image and measure the speck of light from a distant asteroid. In the final week, students write computer software to calculate the asteroid's orbit from their measurements. Rounding out the curriculum are guest presentations by prominent scientists along with behind-the-scenes tours of the Very Large Array and Apache Point Observatory. Since 1959, the SSP experience has inspired students to pursue advanced degrees and careers in science, engineering and other technical professions.

"SSP is a perfect fit with the ongoing commitment that Los Alamos National Laboratory has made to help bring world-class math and science educational opportunities to New Mexico students," Bowles said.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson welcomed the new scholarships, saying "LANL's underwriting the Summer Science Program for young New Mexicans is an outstanding program that connects the state's deep scientific resources to our best students."

Los Alamos enhances global security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to defense, energy, environment, infrastructure, health and national security concerns.

The Summer Science Program is operated by an independent non-profit corporation, established in cooperation with California Institute of Technology, Harvey Mudd College, New Mexico Tech, Pomona College, Stanford University, and UCLA, with support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

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