Summer Science Immersion Program at SUNY Oswego 2015
Syracuse Academy of Science Charter school students participated the High School Summer Science Immersion program at SUNY Oswego for the 6th time this year. The program, held from July 6th to July 31st, provided selected students the opportunity to assist with research projects organized by graduate students or professors of chemistry and physics at SUNY Oswego.
The goal of the program is to guide high school students as they complete individual research projects in science while under the supervision of experienced scientists. Example projects include polymer synthesis, analytical characterization of wastewaters, nanoparticle synthesis and characterization for quantum dot project, semiconductor design and characteristics.
On the first day, the students attended a safety meeting at the Shineman Science building; later, the students met their mentors. The goal for each student was to complete a research project and to write research paper to accompany his/her poster board. We are hoping that the experiences the students have at the Summer Science Immersion Program improves their abilities to conduct research, present them, and even help enhance their college/job application and interview processes. The student-to-staff ratio is no more than 2:1, and students meet for 7 hours per day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks in the summer.
Students were also able to experience a part of college life while attending the program. All students were housed in residence halls on the SUNY Oswego campus, given a key for entry into their dorm rooms, received an ID card accessing them to the Pathfinder dining hall for their meals, and the chance to participate in campus events and make friends with students participating in other summer programs.
As diligently as the students worked, they also had ample time to enjoy their summer as teenagers. They spent their free time participating in activities such as board games, card games, hide-and-seek, walks around the campus, getting ice cream, and even going to the movies and going bowling. It was a fun month for the students as well as educational, which is one component that makes the program so successful.
Six Syracuse Academy of Science students took part in the Summer Science Program this year. We have outlined each of student teams below with a basic explanation of each of their research projects.
Rasha AlQuraishi and Llyneasa Oliver
Designing a polymer network to remove heavy metals from water
The purpose of our research it to find a way to remove heavy metals from contaminated water by cross-linked polymers. Imagine having a plastic bottle that cleans your water from heavy metal contaminations! We’re making a Cu(ll) solution to test the theory that a polymer can successfully draw out the Cu(II) metal. Our aim is developing an environmental friendly, cheap, and sustainable material that can clean the water in a short amount of time.
Justin Armstrong and Ramsey Phuc
Synthesis and characterization of Cadmium Selenide Quantum dot nanoparticles
Nanoparticles and the use of nanotechnology is the next major step in developmental technology to mankind. The synthesis of these particles can be achieved by keeping a solution at a constant, high temperature and extracting the solution at fixed intervals to cool the solution, stimulating the growth of nanocrystallites, which are the basis of nanotechnology. By simply allowing time to pass, the size of these nanocrystallites can be controlled; s the time passes, the diameter increases. These nanocrystallites act as powerful semiconductors and have numerous applications. They can be used in the field of medicine, infrastructure, and alternative energy devices.
Alex Williams and Amari Williams
Preparation and characterization hybrid-semiconductors
A person will come in contact with hundreds of semiconductors every day. Semiconductors can be found in everything from your cell phone to your computer to your car radio. Semiconductors are also proving to be an important part in the field of solar energy and many other fields of study. With semiconductors playing such a large part in technology, it is no wonder why we chose to research them with Dr.Sabirianov. We are researching how changes in the thickness of the film and the particles located in the film affect the effectiveness of the PN junction and semiconductor diode as a whole.
Dr. Ay, director of research at SASCS, welcomes any questions regarding the STEM programs, student selection process, and any other program details. Please contact her at
Click here to view photos of the Summer Science Immersion Program at SUNY Oswego.