| About The Program | RECAP
(Research Experience in Chemistry,
Astronomy and Physics) is a collaborative effort
between the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and the
Departments of Chemistry and Physics/Astronomy at the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This program is made possible through
a grant from The North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation. This
year RECAP will provide opportunities for 8 motivated high school
students (four in physics/astronomy and four in chemistry) to
design and carry out independent research projects.
Students will be chosen from NCSSM and from high schools
across North Carolina through a competitive application
process targeted at students who have demonstrated
an interest in and the potential for tackling the
challenge of independent research in physics/astronomy
or chemistry.
Students will have the option of proposing their own
research project or contributing to an ongoing project.
The centerpiece of the program will be an intensive,
hands-on three-week summer program held on the campuses of NCSSM and UNC-Chapel
Hill. The 2010 summer program will be held July 12-30. NCSSM and UNC-CH professional physics/astronomy
and chemistry staff will serve as students’ advisors
at each step of the research process. Students will
prepare for the three-week summer program by doing
background research during March-June, and will follow up
in the fall by completing a research paper and presenting
at a professional conference. |
| RECAP Program Activities | Each student participating in RECAP will: |
| Research & Residential Facilities |
For their research, students will have access to the libraries, computer labs and chemistry and physics/astronomy laboratories at NCSSM and UNC-CH. All of the students will live in NCSSM dormitories (double occupancy) under the supervision of a residential supervisor during the summer program. NCSSM’s cafeteria provides breakfast and lunch for students working at NCSSM; box lunches can be provided for students working at UNC-CH. Students may also use a dormitory kitchen to cook meals or may eat out. Students will be responsible for dinner (RECAP will pay each student a stipend to pay for dinner). NCSSM school vans and NCSSM personnel will be used to provide transportation for students commuting to UNC-CH and for evening and weekend activities.
All tuition, room, board and fees for RECAP are provided free of
charge. |
| Student Selection Criteria |
Students must be juniors or exceptionally qualified
sophomores and must have completed at least one physics/astronomy
or chemistry course. Sophomores who participate will
be encouraged to reapply for the following year. NCSSM
instructors and UNC-CH faculty mentors will review
applications and select participants based on demonstrated
interest and ability in physics/astronomy or chemistry,
potential for conducting independent research, and
commitment to full participation in all aspects of
the program. We encourage applications from underserved schools and student groups that are traditionally
underrepresented in science, including girls, minorities,
students with disabilities, and students from rural
regions of North Carolina. |
| Program
Timeline - Year One |
The timeline for 2010 will be as follows:
|
|
Program Staff |
The project will be led by Dr. Jonathan Bennett, NCSSM Physics Instructor, Dr. Myra Halpin, NCSSM Chemistry Instructor, Dr.
Art Champagne, Chair of the UNC-CH Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Dr.
Nancy Allbritton, Chair of the UNC-CH Department of Chemistry. In addition, approximately six other UNC-CH chemistry and physics/astronomy faculty members will be working with students in RECAP.
Click here for a current
listing of UNC-CH faculty-sponsored projects. |
|
Application |
RECAP is only
open to students whose parent or guardian lived in North Carolina as
of December 1, 2009. For full consideration, completed applications
must be received no later than March 5, 2010. Download the
application here. |
| Contact Us |
For further information contact:
|