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Summer Research Programs?
aantn writes "I'm currently looking for a science-related summer program. I'm an 11th grade Israeli high school student interested in computer science and robotics. I have a high GPA and take afternoon classes in computer science and mathematics at Israel's Open University. I have several years of experience with C, Python, C#, and Java. I'm actively involved in several open source and freelance projects. Through a program at my school, I will be entering Trinity College's Fire Fighting Robot contest later this year. I enjoy writing and liberal arts, but I'm not interested in a "Learn to Program" or any other "Learn to ______" summer program. I'm looking for something that will be academically challenging and research-oriented. My top choice would be a university research program in either computer science or robotics, but I'm also looking at other science-oriented programs. Does anyone have suggestions for such programs? I'm mostly looking in Israel and the United States, but I'd love to hear about programs in other countries which accept international students. If it's relevant, I have a US citizenship."
I believe that many National Science Foundation funded Research Experience for Undergraduates programs will take exceptional high school students.
See http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/
http://www.scitech.technion.ac.il/index1024.html
http://www.weizmann.ac.il/zemed/english/float.php?page_name=float&cat=256&incat= (I participated in this, good program, but for graduating seniors only)
it's not research-y, but it'd be totally awesome.
I don't know how it is in Israel, but when I was in high school here in the US, I just e-mailed a bunch of professors around the city who were doing interesting work, until I found one willing to take me on as a lab assistant, and I did research there for the rest of my time in high school. I worked for free for a while, but it eventually turned into a nice part-time job (as well as a great activity to put on college apps). My high school even had a program that got me credit for doing it, so that's something you may want to look into. With your strong background, you shouldn't have a hard time finding a lab willing to take you (scientists love cheap/free labor).
Stanford and CMU have good programs in general, there must be some good summer programs. Plus, both have a presence in Silicon Valley (Stanford is just there, CMU has a campus at Moffett Field), so you can find a good job afterwards. You seem really talented, so you should be able to get into those places if you know how to talk to people (find a professor who wants you to attend, and the application process will be MUCH easier).
-Taylor
Worldwide Military budgets: $2100 billion. Worldwide Space Exploration budgets: $38 billion. Really, world? Really?
I recommend Google Summer of Code. Check out the 2008 projects: http://code.google.com/soc/2008/
Seriously, are we all supposed to congratulate you because you're so involved in computer stuff while being "only" grade 11? And you want something that will be academically challenging and research-oriented? And you have dual citizenship? Whoa!
Even more seriously, please take a break from all the computer and robot stuff. You get enough of that every day by the sounds of it. You need to take the summer off to travel, see new things out there in the world, volunteer in the community, make some friends, meet some girls. You know, the real stuff that will get you ahead in life. Computers and robots will be there for you for the rest of your life, whether you still love them or not, but your friends, youth, health and curiosity may not be.
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology has an interesting program called Operation Catapult that might be of interest. I attended many years ago, and the program was great. All the facilities -- libraries, labs, machine shops, etc -- were available to you and you worked with full professors and department heads for your project. It's an invitational program, but it sounds like you're qualified.
The school itself is not widely known to the general public, but it is very well respected academically. Check out the wikipedia page.
PS: Sorry to post as a reply to an early post, but the thread is getting heavily trolled and I didn't want this post to get pushed back to page 3 of a troll-a-thon.
3 things about computers: they're alive, they're self-aware, and they hate your guts.
http://www.lanl.gov/education/precollege/
Los Alamos (where I work) is always interested in having bright students (of any level, high school and beyond) come and work here. My particular group hosted a high school student last summer. I'm sure the other national labs have similar programs. Just snoop around the website (this might be a place to start for ideas: http://www.lanl.gov/education/profiles/index.shtml), email people who are doing cool things, and you might be surprised at the opportunities that open up.
The Weizmann institute outside of T.A. runs a summer program (two versions actually, one for HS students and one for undergraduates) called the Karyn Kupcinet International Science School for Overseas Students. At least, that's the part of the program I participated in, as an American undergrad. But there were a lot of Israeli HS students around, so I think you would be eligible. You get to troll the institute's websites and rank the distinguished faculty members you would like to do research with in order of preference. If you get into the program, they'll assign you one of your choices, and that advisor will help you with a research project. The CS/Math department is very strong. I don't know much about the other departments, But it's worth pointing out that Weizmann has its own particle accelerator (!), now used mostly for nMRI I believe.