Do you have a passion for community health, the environment, or cute animals?
Science! Love it or hate it, most of us have to take science classes in high school. But outside the cold, dark recesses of your school basement, there’s a different kind of scientist.
These scientists find outdoor discovery fascinating, thrive on collaborating, and have a personal interest in understanding real world problems. They are well-traveled and enjoy volunteering in other cultures to solve pressing issues. Once they understand exactly what local communities need, they go ahead and make it happen.
Although you may not enjoy the traditional science taught in school, you might have a passion for environmental conservation and public health. Perhaps what you’ve always wanted was a more motivated, hands-on, and culturally rich experience. It’s one thing to memorize animal classification schemes, and another one entirely to ride elephants through a river after a satisfying day’s work:
It’s also one thing to desperately throw powders together so your mixture turns blue in chem lab, and a completely different one to install a water filtration system that will improve the lives of many people:
If any of these ideas interest you, then consider yourself a modern scientist.
(And don’t worry, you can leave your lab coat and goggles back home.)
If you can’t wait to get some down-and-dirty, life-changing experience—especially if you want to get your science on over Summer Break—then also consider joining a global service learning project! For those of you already prepping for medical, veterinary, or dental school, it’s useful to supplement what you’re learning with a meaningful intercultural experience.
But what Summer Science Programs are available for high school students?
Well…that all depends on your interests and goals. To help you get started, you can check out Global Leadership Adventures’ (GLA’s) Summer Science Programs for High School Students:
Outside of high school classes, science solves global problems and brings together communities from all over the world. Who knew science could be so useful and—dare we say—fun?
What’s been your experience with science outside the classroom (good or bad)? Please share below!
Contributed by Nick Fochtman
