Whale Spouts Water Extravagantly
In the heart of UC San Diego, a unique summer learning experience unfolded for a group of high school seniors. The TRIO Upward Bound Summer Learning program at Scripps Oceanography provided these students with an immersive, hands-on exploration of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects.
The programme, designed to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds, offered academic enrichment and exposure to college-level experiences. Over a month, the students lived at the University of San Diego near the Scripps campus and participated in classroom activities spanning chemistry, physics, and history.
Afternoons were dedicated to practical applications of what they were learning. The students spent two afternoons a week with Scripps graduate students, who volunteered to engage them in marine, earth, and atmospheric science. The programme focused on science experiments, lab tours, and beach exploration.
One of the highlights of the programme was the simulated volcanic eruption, conducted by Scripps graduate student Geoff Cromwell, who studies marine geology, with a special emphasis on volcanoes and their history. Another memorable experience was the excursion to the rocky tide pools near Scripps's shoreline, led by Scripps graduate student Mike Navarro. Navarro shared insights from his early career as a research scientist, encouraging the students to view themselves as scientists for the day.
Activities included collecting plankton samples from Scripps Pier, measuring carbon in the lab, studying ancient ice cores, examining marine fossils, and learning about the bizarre and amazing creatures found at great ocean depths. The programme aimed to provide students with a tangible understanding of STEM subjects through practical experiences.
The Scripps summer program offered a real-world glimpse into potential future careers for many of the inquisitive college-bound students. The goal of TRIO Upward Bound was to expose students to STEM careers and majors. The programme concluded with a strong focus on inspiration, capped off with an occasional volcanic eruption.
Gilbert Bretado, Scripps student affairs coordinator, organised the Scripps summer of science. The search results did not provide specific information about the TRIO Upward Bound Summer Learning program at Scripps Oceanography or the activities it included. However, based on general knowledge, such programmes typically aim to support high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds by offering academic enrichment and exposure to college-level experiences.
For more detailed information about the TRIO Upward Bound Summer Learning program at Scripps Oceanography, it is recommended to check UC San Diego or Scripps Oceanography's official TRIO Upward Bound webpages or contacts.
- The TRIO Upward Bound Summer Learning program at Scripps Oceanography, designed for high school seniors, offers academic enrichment and exposure to college-level STEM education and self-development.
- Science experiments, lab tours, and beach exploration are part of the hands-on learning experiences students participate in during the TRIO Upward Bound Summer Learning program at UC San Diego's Scripps Oceanography, focusing on areas such as marine, earth, and atmospheric science.
