“the educational experience of a lifetime” … since 1959

The Summer Science Program offers teens an exhilarating and inspiring immersion into hands-on experimental science. Working in teams of three, 36 or 24 participants and 8 faculty form a supportive “living and learning community” over 39 days. Each team completes a real research project, taking and analyzing original data. Afterward, they join a worldwide network of 3,700+ alumni of all ages. In 2024 we operated 12 programs:

five in Astrophysics: research in near-earth asteroid orbit determination at New Mexico State Univ., Univ. of Colorado Boulder, Georgia College & State Univ., and Univ. of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
three in Biochemistry: research in fungal crop pathogens at Purdue Univ. and Indiana Univ.
three in Genomics: research in evolution of antibiotic resistance at Indiana Univ., Georgetown Univ., and Purdue Univ.
one in Synthetic Chemistry: Creation of novel macrocyclic drugs at Southwestern Oklahoma State Univ.

The Summer Science Program is an independent nonprofit, dedicated to creating a transformational experience for our participants. Many alumni call it “the educational experience of a lifetime.”

Is Summer Science Program For You?

Summer Science Program is open to current high school juniors who have completed the pre-requisites by summer, and will be at least 15 years old, but not yet 19, during the program. (Not a junior yet? We can remind you later.)

Follow Summer Science Program on Instagram for application reminders and updates.

Learning science was fun and doing science was challenging, but really, I think the essence of SSP has everything to do with collaboration. Being in a room with 35 other highly motivated students inspired me to be an efficient teammate, an optimistic leader, a humble student, and a supportive friend. Working with the smartest people I have ever met, I achieved things I never thought I could do. SSP transformed me from a distant individualist to a passionate collaborator. And by doing so, I think it sent me on a path of success.

- Arielsie L., NMSU ‘23