Summer Institute

The New York Schools Cosmic Particle Telescope (NYSCPT) Project, a consortium including New York University (Physics Department and School of Education), Columbia University (Physics Department), and Barnard College (Physics Department) will present a summer research course for high school teacher-student teams to initiate the development of a university-school collaboration to build an ultra high-energy cosmic particle telescope in New York City.

Summer Research Program
Participants will study background information on cosmic particle physics and astrophysics. They will engage in hands-on building of experimental apparatus including detector components and electronics. Participants will also use the apparatus to detect cosmic particles and record and analyze data using computer software. Participants will work in teams composed of one teacher and two students. The detectors which will be built in the Summer Institute will be used by the teams in their home schools for ongoing research projects in the following school year. There will be a collaborative effort to develop a curriculum plan for using the project and equipment in the classroom or as part of a research class. High school physics is not a pre-requisite for student participants.

The summer research institute is part of a larger effort to build a cosmic particle observatory in New York City in connection with the New York City Schools. The observatory consists of a large number, eventually thousands, of detectors spread out over a large area, approximately 1/2 kilometer apart. The detectors are compact and robust and can be used individually for many interesting experiments for science classes at all levels. When the outputs of many detectors are assembled, they become capable of studying the rare and exceptionally powerful cosmic particles of greatest scientific interest. For further details see the NYSCPT Overview.

Activities and Field Trip
The schedule of summer activities consists of 60 hours of lectures, hands-on equipment building and laboratory research, and a field trip to Columbia University in upper Manhattan.

Program Dates and Attendance Requirements
The institute will be held from August 9 - August 23, 2002. Orientation will be held on the afternoon of Friday August 9, 2002; classes will run from 9 am - 4 pm, Aug 12-23. Participants must attend the orientation session. Parents of students are invited and encouraged to attend the orientation session and field trip. Perfect attendance for the classes is extremely important, because mastery of each segment as it is presented provides the foundation for understanding subsequent concepts and techniques. If the participant knows in advance about a conflict, he/she must discuss this with the lead instructor and make appropriate arrangements; repeated absences may result in being dropped from the course.

Location and Travel
The Summer Institute classes will be held at NYU's Meyer Hall, whose address is

New York University
Meyer Hall
4 Washington Place
New York, NY 10003,

which is 2.5 blocks east of Washington Square, just west of Broadway. Nearby subway stations are 8th St (N,R), Astor Place (6), West Fourth St (A,B,C,D,E,F,Q), and Christopher St (1,9), and PATH is at 6th Ave and 9th Street. A map can be found on the NYU website. Participants are expected to pay for their own travel within NYC. The stipend is partly a reimbursement for travel expenses. Transportation for the field trip to Columbia University will be provided.

Eligibility, Application Process and Stipend
Student participants need not have taken physics, but must be intelligent and interested in science, math, technology, engineering, and/or tinkering. Student and teacher participants must be committed to continuing on the research project during the following academic year, working and consulting with program faculty members at their home high schools and with NYSCPT collaboration members. A team will normally consist of one science or math teacher and two students from the same school. Other arrangements may be considered if circumstances warrant. We encourage underrepresented and women students and teachers in the sciences to apply.

Teachers
Participants must be highly motivated high school science or math teachers who are committed to continuing to develop and oversee the research projects at their home high school during the academic year. Applicants must be nominated by their high school supervisor. Completed applications must be postmarked by May 28, 2002. Teachers will be given an anticipated stipend of ($1500.00) or NYC Board of Education in-service G-credit. The course has been assigned 4 G-credits.

An action plan must be turned in by each teacher as part of the successful completion of the Summer Institute. The action plan is a general description of the ways in which the teacher will implement the research experience into the classroom, plus a lesson plan which details a specific lesson or series of lessons the teacher will present, incorporating different aspects of the NYSCPT. The first draft of the action plan is due by August 19th, 2002. Teachers must submit their action plan in order to receive the first of two stipend installments of $750.00. The second installment of $750.00 will be issued when the final version of the action plan is submitted.

Students
Applicants must be current 9th, 10th, or 11th grade students who are highly motivated, responsible and interested in science and mathematics. Students must be nominated and interviewed by a teacher from their home high school, normally the prospective teacher team member. For information about interview guidelines, or to discuss alternate nomination arrangements, please contact the Admissions Officer. Applications must be postmarked by May 28, 2002. Students satisfactorily completing the course will receive a stipend of $500.00.

Students must submit an action plan as part of the successful completion of the Summer Institute. The action plan is a general description of how the student will continue to work on the research project developed during the Summer Institute. The first draft of the action plan is due on August 19th, 2002. Students must submit the first draft of the action plan in order to receive the first of two stipend installments of $250.00. The second installment of $250.00 is contingent on satisfactory participation including attendance and punctuality and will be issued when the final draft of the action plan is submitted at the end of the course.

Equipment and Computer
A PC equipped with a Lab View card will be provided for each teacher to use in his/her classroom in the upcoming school year, to enable research and classroom projects to be carried out using the detectors which are being built. We anticipate the PC will remain on loan to the teacher for use in his/her classroom as long as the teacher continues to participate in the NYSCPT project. The detector apparatus will also be available for use in the schools, possibly on a shared basis. PC and equipment must be securely stored.

Application Form
Information and applications can be obtained from the Admissions Officer at the address below, or online. Please consult this webpage before submitting your application, for possible updates to the information given here. Make a copy of your application and retain the copy for your records. Completed, signed applications must be postmarked by May 28, 2002, and sent to:

Wesley Pitts, Admissions Officer, NYSCPT Summer Institute
Gateway Institute for Pre-College Education
York College Campus, Science Building Room 223
94-50 159th Street
Jamaica, New York 11451

Phone (York College): 718-523-0960; (City College): 212-650-6519
Fax: 718-523-6307
Email: wpitts@ccny.cuny.edu

Results of the admissions competition will be announced by mid-June or earlier.

Summer Institute Faculty
Glennys Farrar, Professor of Physics, New York University, Project Leader
Reshmi Mukherjee, Asst Professor of Physics, Barnard College
Stefan Westerhoff , Asst Professor of Physics, Columbia Univ., Course Administrator
David McMullen, Adjunct Professor of Science Education, New York University

Funding for the NYSCPT Summer Institute and follow-up program is provided by the National Science Foundation, Barnard College, Columbia University, New York University and Wolfram Research.