Summer Science Institute
The University of Mary Washington Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 Summer Science Institute (SSI) is a ten-week program that offers UMW science majors an opportunity to participate in a summer-long, research project supervised by a faculty member. Every year, students in STEM disciplines conducted faculty-mentored research on campus, as well as field research in our region as well as other locations outside the state. Students receive room and meals on campus as well as a stipend, and each student has funds for purchasing supplies for their research.
Summer science is about the research, but also about learning the skills and the opportunities available in STEM. Weekly program meetings are a time for students to share and learn from each other, explore important topics such as ethics in science, increase their communication skills, and learn about career pathways. We also plan fun activities each week such as taking in a FredNats baseball game, bowling, movie night, and canoeing. Students wrap up the program with a special luncheon, where SSI alumni are invited to attend and interact with students, sharing their own SSI experiences and their career paths since leaving UMW. Then the last week of the program, students present the results of their research through poster and oral presentations at our annual Summer Science Symposium. Top presenters win a scholarship from the John C. and Jerri Barden Perkins ’61 Student Research Endowment. Read below about SSI in recent years.