From Lab to Life: A Chemistry Career Exploration

Quick Facts

Ages: 14–17

To participate in the residential experience, students must be at least 15 years old.

Grades: Rising ninth graders through rising 12th graders

Dates: July 7–July 18

Time: 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 

Location: Mies Campus 

Format: Overnight and Daytime

Duration: Two Weeks 

Cost: $3,000 for Overnight; $2,000 for Daytime 

Topic Area

Chemistry

Program Description

This program immerses high school students in the field of chemical sciences, providing hands-on lab experience and guidance about various career pathways. Students will gain practical lab skills, ranging from conducting chemical reactions and applying scientific methods to working with chemoinformatics, analytical devices, and computational tools. They will also see how chemistry connects with biology, physics, and medicine by analyzing environmental and biological chemicals.

Schedule

9 a.m.—Introduction to the lab

10 a.m.—Start experiment for the day

Noon—Lunch

1 p.m.—Speaker session and/or resume experiment of the day

2 p.m.—Discuss results of experiment of the day

2:30 p.m.—Fun chemistry demonstration

3 p.m.—Dismissal

Activities

  • Research and development lab
  • Forensic chemistry lab
  • Green chemistry lab
  • Cosmetics chemistry lab
  • Analytical chemistry lab
  • Environmental chemistry lab
  • Alumni and industry experts taking part in speaker sessions
  • Interactive chemistry demonstrations:
    • Science behind the reaction bertween Mentos and Diet Coke
    • Elephant’s toothpaste
    • Vinegar and baking soda rockets

Benefits

Students will gain hands-on experience in the chemistry teaching laboratory using chemical reactions, scientific method, chemoinformatics, analytical devices, computing tools, interrelations of chemical sciences with biology, physics, and other professions, and by converting and analyzing chemicals found in the environment and on our own bodies. Students will be provided with a lab manual and guided by instructors and teaching assistants. This will expose students to the multitude of different career paths that are available in the chemical sciences and make them aware of the exciting science available to them. Additionally, this will provide students insight into college-level chemistry lab courses with introductory level lab report writing exercises.

Eligibility and Program Requirements:

No prior experience necessary!