Area Students to Attend Governor’s School for Math and Science

West Virginia University is getting kids excited about learning during the West Virginia Governor’s School for Mathematics and Science in July.

Sixty students from nearly every county in the state will immerse themselves in classes and hands-on learning opportunities at WVU – all while experiencing dorm-style living on campus at Stalnaker Hall, going on field trips and joining in social and recreational activities.

The session for students who recently finished the seventh grade (often referred to by educators as “rising eighth-graders”) runs July 5 to July 14.

Rising ninth-graders will attend their own session at WVU July 15 through July 27. Students in this age group also have the opportunity to attend a session at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank July 29 through Aug. 11.

A ceremony for parents and families will begin at 3 p.m. in the auditorium of the Life Sciences Building on the opening day of each WVU session.

“It’s very important for us to engage the youth of our state in exciting educational activities,” said Keith Garbutt, dean of the Honors College. “They are the future, literally. Not having enough young people studying math and science is a national problem. We want to show them science is fun.”

Six WVU resident advisers (or RAs) will live and work side-by- side with the students, helping them adjust to their weeklong stay and aiding them on their projects.

When participants first arrive, the RAs and volunteers put on a ceremony and skit to help prevent possible homesickness. They act almost as camp counselors, coordinating activities, playing games and working alongside a particular teacher and group of students throughout the week.

Central research themes are chosen each year for the school. Activities broaden students’ understanding of the role of scientific research in society.

“Journey to the Inner Space” is the theme for this year’s program, which will include trips to the National Aquarium in Baltimore July 8 and 22.

This will be the first time the school has taken students to the aquarium, Garbutt noted. Students will design special projects, such as a fictional expedition to the bottom of the ocean, prior to their field trip.

During a typical day at the school, children learn by forming research groups in the morning with experiences related to the central theme. Students usually break for soccer, swimming and other outdoor games in the mid-afternoon.

“Everything they do feeds into the theme of the school,” Garbutt said. “The theme this year is about what’s going on at the bottom of the oceans. It’s about dealing with engineering problems, how you would design something to withstand high pressures. They’ll be learning a lot of math and science as they go along.”

Students will enjoy hands-on biology experiences, looking at different organisms and ocean currents, among many other areas.

The GSMS also provides an important role in getting students interested in higher education, Garbutt said.

“Students from the first group we had are coming to WVU this year,” he noted. “Many will be honor students. It’s good to see we’re making a difference. Young students get a lot of encouragement through the Governor’s School.”

Other activities include science lectures by WVU faculty, Quiz Bowl and field trips.

Metro circulation area students scheduled to attend one of the two sessions include: Kent Marshall of St. Albans, Afsheen Misaghi of Charleston, Elizabeth Yoder of Scott Depot and Luke Miller, also of Scott Depot.

(c) 2007 Charleston Gazette, The. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.