Virus Evolution: Combating Disease in the Modern Age
The ability to predict the next biological threat or disease is dependent on fast-paced, cutting-edge technologies wielded by highly trained researchers. But even before technologies can be employed, a key component to predicting the next outbreak is understanding what viruses and diseases are newly emerging within our population, whether from the forests of Africa or deserts of the Middle East.
In this one-week course, you’ll divide your time between hands-on experiments in laboratories, in-class lessons where experienced scientists will guide you through the inner workings of viruses and breakthrough technologies, as well as field trips to museums that explore plagues throughout American history. Students will also have the opportunity to engage with peers enrolled in Demystifying Machine Learning: A Python-Based Introduction to Data Science through lessons that integrate both course contents, site visits and community-building activities.
Prerequisite
This course is intentionally designed to prepare advanced high school students for college-level curriculum and pace. As such, it’s advantageous for students to have taken an introductory biology or anatomy course. If you don’t have a strong biology background, you’re encouraged to review basic biology text books beforehand.
Demystifying Machine Learning: A Python-Based Introduction to Data Science
The field of data science will continue to impact every industry in the 21st century: health, government, transportation, energy, technology, weather, politics, and many more. This course introduces interested high school students to topics and methods involved in data science. No prior programming or math experience is required: The course will teach an introduction to the Python programming language in the data science context.
In this one-week course, you’ll delve into topics in data science and participate in code-alongs to demonstrate and fortify the techniques you’re learning. The course will also include opportunities for group discussions on important ethical topics in data science—machine learning biases, for example—as well as a field trip to the NSA’s National Cryptologic Museum. Students will also have the opportunity to engage with peers enrolled in Virus Evolution: Combating Disease in the Modern Age through lessons that integrate both course contents, site visits, and community building activities.
