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