Penn Summer Academies

 High school students may choose one of these 4-week Academies:

• The Penn Summer Science Academies (PSSA) include guided laboratory work, guest lectures, and discussion groups, all taught by Penn scientists, faculty, and outside experts.

Although the academies are noncredit they are considered exceptionally rigorous, with classes and labs  meeting every morning and afternoon. Additional work may be assigned for evenings and weekends, including reading, library and Internet research, and preparation of written or oral reports.

Learn more about the Penn Summer Academies:

• Biomedical Research Academy
• Experimental Physics Academy
• Art in the City Academy
• Social Justice Research Academy

Biomedical Research Academy

July 1 – July 28, 2012

Taught by members of Penn's Department of Biology and other regional biology teachers, the goal of this program is to introduce you to the experimental basis of biology, including relevance to disease.  The focus of the program will be on how we know what we know.  Daily morning lectures and discussions on the cellular, molecular and genetic aspects of biology will be followed on some days by guest lectures from scientists and clinicians from Penn’s Department of Biology and from the Penn Medical School.  Afternoons will be spent in the laboratory with hands-on experiments that introduce you to the tools and techniques used in biomedical research labs.  You will also participate in a small group “journal club” where you will learn to read primary scientific literature on a current topic of interest.

Prerequisites: One year of high school Biology is required for application. One year of high school Chemistry is strongly advised.

*Please note: Textbooks and other course materials are not included in tuition. These must be purchased independently from the Penn Bookstore or an online retailer of your choice. Students are also encouraged to bring a laptop to class.

How to apply

Experimental Physics Research Academy

July 1 – July 28, 2012

Taught by members of Penn’s Department of Physics and Astronomy and regional physics teachers, this program combines in-depth lectures and discussions on mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum dynamics, and astrophysics with hands-on experiments to measure the speed of light and a field trip to an amusement park to study the physics of rides using electronic data-logging devices.

Other activities include an afternoon at Penn’s indoor rock-climbing wall to learn first-hand about how best to use friction to counteract the force of gravity as well as a tour of the Franklin Institute planetarium and observatory.

Want to learn more? Visit the Program Director's website or peruse the blog of three former program participants.

How to apply

Art in the City Academy

July 1 – July 28, 2012

Taught by members of Penn’s department of History of Art and regional specialists, the goal of this program is to introduce students to the extensive world of the visual arts that lies both on Penn’s campus and in downtown Philadelphia. The focus of the program is on acquainting students with the museums, galleries and historical sites that house works of painting, sculpture and decorative arts that make the nation’s first capital a world-class center for art and architectural study. We begin with morning lectures on specific objects, concepts of art production and study, and contemporary visual culture. In the afternoons we will take field trips to local museums, such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Penn’s Institute of Contemporary Art; historic sites, including Independence National Historic Park; and guided tours of the city’s many murals and works of public sculpture. You will work with instructors and research professionals to develop weekly projects that may include visual analyses, videos, and web pages.

How to apply

Social Justice Research Academy

July 1 – July 28, 2012

The Social Justice Research Academy brings students together with Penn faculty to examine the historical importance and the contemporary relevance of struggles to overcome inequality and injustice. 

Morning Lectures and Discussions  Attend classes with Penn faculty from several disciplines, including urban/global studies, philosophy, race and gender, economics and community development, politics, law and policy, history, sociology, environment, and public health.

 Afternoon Workshops and Site Visits  Participate in activities with special guests from community groups, cooperatives, socially responsible businesses, labor unions, political advocacy organizations, environmental projects, urban farms, research institutes, and philanthropies.

 The promise of – and the struggle for – freedom is one of the enduring narratives of human society. The faculty will call upon knowledge and experience from many sources:

• past struggles – peasant revolts, slave rebellions, anti-colonial and anti-apartheid independence movements
• present struggles – Arab Spring, Occupy, and ongoing human rights campaigns across the globe

This academy has been designed for students who are interested in:

• society, economy, politics, and environment
• doing research supplemented by photography, video, music, art, or digital design
• developing skills for leadership and organizational development
• doing projects related to freedom, justice, equality, sustainability, peace, and fairness

 Program Director:  Andrew T. Lamas, J.D.

How to apply