2008-09 Breck Advanced Science Research Program
May Program and Summer
2008
The Advanced
Science Research Program enables gifted/seriously interested science students
to participate in an actual research experience. The Science Department is very
excited about exposing Breck students to the thrill of discovery that is
characteristic of research.
In the research
program, each participant is placed in the research lab of a faculty mentor and
spends a majority of his or her time pursuing a research project in the
mentor's laboratory. Students are carefully matched based on their interests
and talents with university mentors. They then work at the laboratories
full-time for at least 320 hours during the summer, starting during May Program
or the first week of June. If a
student wishes to arrange his or her own research project, s/he must submit an
application form and fee and have the Breck advisor approve the research
project. Summer research experiences are offered at universities such at MIT
and Harvard that qualify students to participate in the Advanced Science
Research Program. Students are encouraged to apply for these programs when
applying to the Advanced Science Research Program.
Students who have
enrolled in Advanced Science Research Program in past years have specialized in
biochemistry, orthopedics, molecular biology, plant biology, microbiology, soil
science, food science, nutrition, forest resources, and ecology. During the
research period, students learn to use a library to find information on their
research topic. As they work in the laboratory, they keep a notebook, using the
guidelines of the laboratory in which they are working.
Once school begins
in the fall, students may enroll in the Advanced Science Research class, which
meets each day. During this time, students write their research papers,Distinguished
Scholar Competition,and for the INTEL Science Talent Search, and they present
their work at the Minnesota Science and Engineering Fair and at the Junior
Science and Humanities Symposium. They also develop PowerPoint and poster-board
presentations for a formal seminar presentation that is held at Breck School
to which research students invite members of the Breck faculty, other research
students, off-campus mentors, and their parents. All students in the research
class attend these research seminar presentations.
The Science
Department believes that the stimulation of doing real research and working
with mentors encourages talented students to pursue careers in science. Unlike
our regular science classes where science is taught using through a series of
discrete laboratory experiences coupled with classroom work, the Breck Advanced
Science Research Program immerses students in real-world scientific studies.
The program serves to strengthen ties between the research laboratories and
Breck School and provides benefits for Breck teachers and students who are not
directly involved in the research class. The excitement and interest in science
generated by the program enriches our science program.
Research students
may choose to participate in the summer research program without enrolling
in the research class. Because the summer experience is beyond the school-year
program, a special fee of $500 is assessed. This fee is not refundable once
students begin the summer research experience even if students decide not
to complete the summer research or choose not to enroll in the research class
that meets during the school year.
The Advanced
Science Research Program offers two options to the students who are selected
for the program:
Option 1
Students begin
their research project during the first week of June so they are able to spend
at least 320 hours in the laboratory.
Option 2
Students begin their
research project during May Program so that they are able to intensively develop
their skills that will lead them into their project. They then complete at
least 320 hours of laboratory research over the course of at least eight weeks.
Fee
The fee for the
summer component is $500 for both options. The fee is due with the research
application and is non-refundable once the student has begun the research
project. Funds are available for students who are eligible for financial aid.
The Breck Research
Program is open to Breck students who have demonstrated an interest and ability
in science. Applicants must have completed biology and chemistry or physics
by June 2008 and must be able to provide their own transportation during the
May Program and during the summer.
Application deadline:
January 31, 2009
Contact Person:
Lois Fruen
Breck School
123 Ottawa Ave.
North
Minneapolis, MN
55422
763-381-8211