International Science Summer Institute (ISSI) - Additional Information

Details about ISSI, the structure of the program, a typical day's schedule, and many other facets of science's most stimulating summer can be found below.

Age of Participants:
The International Summer Science Institute is open to talented science-oriented students who either graduated from high school, are in their gap year, or are at their early stages of their undergraduate studies. Applicants must be at least 18 year old prior to the program’s start date.

General Schedule for 2020:
The 2020 camp will take place from July 7th to July 30th, 2020.

Structure of the Program:
Three weeks are devoted to the laboratory scientific research. During that period, supplemental lectures delivered by senior Institute scientists, departmental seminars and visits to some of the state of the art facilities on campus take place. Students themselves are strongly encouraged to prepare and lead seminars on subjects in which they have interest.
Upon completion of laboratory work, participants give an oral presentation before an assembly of their peers and mentors and submit a written report.
The participants spend the last week of the program in the Judean desert and the Negev with expert guides from The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI). During the desert excursion, participants study survival in the desert, as well as the wildlife, ecology, archeology and history of the surrounding area.  This is done primarily through first-hand experience including extensive nature hikes, field experiments, wildlife observation and demonstrations.

Typical Daily Schedule
Here is an example of a how a typical day is spent:
  • 07:30  Wakeup
  • 08:15 to 09:00  Breakfast
  • 09:00 to 13:30  Lab projects
  • 13:30 to 14:15  Lunch
  • 14:30 to 17:00  Lab projects
  • 17:00 to 21:30  Dinner, prep time, evening programs, and free time

Of course, the schedule also allows for free time, social activities, discussion groups and more. Emphasis is placed on participant involvement in planning events and programs. Participants take part in the social, journal or sports committees. Tour to Jerusalem, to the northern part of Israel and to Eilat are part of the itinerary. During free time, participants can enjoy the extensive recreational (including a swimming pool, basketball courts, soccer fields) and library facilities on campus.

Location:
The first three weeks of the program are spent in the laboratories of Weizmann Institute.
The fourth week is spent with extensive hikes in the Judean desert, near the Dead Sea, the Negev as well as Eilat.