Queen’s University’s Summer of Science

The McDonald Institute, now in partnership with the Carbon to Metal Coating Institute (C2MCI), will again be running the Queen’s University Summer of Science during summer 2025. The Summer of Science is a free afternoon enrichment program for a small group of high school and middle school students (including students graduating this June). The program will be in-person for those in the Kingston and surrounding area, and we will also have a virtually cohort based on interest. Over 12 afternoon sessions (three a week for 4 weeks), this program focuses on the physical sciences and the process of doing science. The Summer of Science program is led by undergraduates and joined by scientists at the McDonald Institute and the C2MCI. Participating students explore through hands-on activities a variety of content and practices that are part of the every-day job of our scientists. This program’s goal is to supplement the focus on scientific content in the classroom with the tools of the trade that are at the heart of actually doing science. Activities will as much as possible involve students recreating and exploring these demonstrations at home before sharing with their cohort.

An example of skills and practices that may be touched on:

• Inquiry,
• Hypothesis forming
• Experimentation
• Data analysis
• Searching past research publications
• Computer programming
• Laboratory safety
• Presenting results

These skills will be covered through their application to science content, which could include topics such as:

• Fundamentals of Astronomy: Galaxies, cosmology, dark matter
• Fundamentals of Chemistry: Atoms, periodic table, molecules, chemical reactions and Equations
• The standard model of particle physics: particles and how they interact
• Neutrinos and the Nobel-prize winning SNO experiment
• Hunting for dark matter with sensitive detectors in unique labs
• Chemistry in industry
• Microelectronics
• Molecules for medical application

Students may also get involved with their instructor’s research projects. This involvement will contribute to the research being done here at Queen’s and will be recognized appropriately.

NOTE: The program is entirely free for all participants. 

Program Afternoons: Students will meet with their instructors over approximately four weeks, scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons (1:30 – 4:30 PM EDT) in July and August, 2025, both in person or online depending on the group. Sessions will be held on:

• July 8th – 10th
• July 15th – 17th
• July 29th – 31st
• Aug 12th – 14th

Students are expected to attend all 12 sessions, though it is okay to miss a session or two. Note: in your application email, please indicate any dates that may not work for you. We will try to accommodate you. Please also confirm if you would be available to participate on campus as an in-person group. As these occur over Tues-Thurs afternoons, it is possible to come to Queen’s and stay in residence during the weeks of the program. All expenses for residence are not covered by the program.

Program Conclusion: The summer program will end with a presentation by the students on their involvement in research projects over the summer. These presentations will be open for all to join, including friends and family.

The application period is now open. The deadline to apply is May 14th, 2025. To apply, send a letter of interest (maximum one page) introducing yourself and highlighting Why you would like to be part of the McDonald Institute Summer of Science to summer-of-science@queensu.ca, and have a teacher separately submit a letter (no later than May 14th) of support to summer-of-science@queensu.ca. Please include your grade, your current school, and whether you hope to attend in person, or virtually.

For more information, don’t hesitate to email summer-of-science@queensu.ca and make sure to reference “Summer of Science”.