Middle School Summer Science Program

The Middle School Summer Science Program is a free, three-week enrichment experience offered through the RMTL Academy at UC San Diego. Designed for middle school students with an interest in science and healthcare, the program provides engaging, hands-on learning opportunities that introduce participants to a variety of STEM disciplines while fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and scientific inquiry.

 

Throughout the program, students explore topics in physics, biology, anatomy, physiology, and developmental biology through interactive laboratory activities, clinical skills workshops, guest presentations, and educational tours. 

 

Students participate in a variety of hands-on investigations, including:

• Measuring the density of a penny and exploring the physical properties of matter.

• Learning the principles of spectrophotometry and using standard curves and graphing techniques to determine the concentration of unknown samples.

• Observing sea urchin embryo development to learn about fertilization, cell division, and early stages of life.

• Participating in heart rate and blood pressure monitoring workshops to better understand human physiology and basic clinical assessment techniques.

• Developing essential laboratory skills, including observation, data collection, analysis, and scientific communication.

• Exploring human anatomy through a comparative anatomy laboratory, where students examine preserved heart and lung specimens, gaining a deeper understanding of organ structure, function, and the relationship between anatomy and human health.

 

In addition, students interact with scientists, healthcare professionals, and researchers through guest speaker sessions that highlight educational pathways and career opportunities in STEM fields. Educational tours provide further exposure to university research environments and the exciting possibilities of scientific discovery.