Computational Science (CS) – Physics
Do you love physics? Are you interested in computer programming? Want to learn skills that could help you save the world? As computational science is one of the hottest subjects currently not being taught at school, a program that combines both fields is just for you!
Are “bending” a soccer ball, popping popcorn in the microwave, and melting an ice cube really just everyday phenomena? Not to us! These seemingly mundane actions hide complex processes that still cannot be calculated accurately, but using computational simulations we can try to predict their outcome: Where will the ball we kicked go, at what exact second will the corn kernel pop, and what part of the ice cube will melt first.
Computational science is unlike any other subject in school. That is why we have developed a unique, three-year program, during which you will acquire profound knowledge in software such as Python, EJS, and Matlab, and apply it to solve scientific problems. Just imagine how, in the future, using similar models, you will be able to potentially predict the outcome of larger environmental processes, such as icebergs melting, or the moment a sinkhole may appear in the road. Such predictions can contribute to many fields, from road safety to environmental protection. So if you want to save the world, this is the program for you!
Audience:
Outstanding, soon-to-be 10th-graders, who are taking five-point-level math and are also taking, or plan to take five-point-level physics
Time:
Screening tests will take place in the Duck Hall at the Davidson Institute, from 16:30-19:30. Applicants must arrive 30 minutes earlier.
- A five-day summer workshop will be held at the Davidson Institute in two classes: Students who live nearby will attend the workshop from July 14-18, and students from outside the area, who require on-site accommodations, will attend the workshop from August 1-2 and 4-6.
- Weekly, 90-minute online sessions will be held throughout the school year. The sessions will be held on Mondays or Wednesdays, between 16:30 and 18:00.
- A two-day workshop during the Hanukkah holiday; dates to be announced.
- A three-day workshop during the Passover holiday; dates to be announced.
- The school year ends on Passover.
Place:
All workshops will be held at the Davidson Institute of Science Education at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot. Online sessions can take place wherever students have internet access
Price:
Registration and screening –176 NIS (discounted from 220 NIS). Admission – 2,500 NIS (in up to 10 installments).
How:
Click on the registration form at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions. Suitable applicants will be contacted regarding the screening process.
More about the program
The Davidson Institute of Science Education, together with the Hemda science education center in Tel-Aviv and with the Education Ministry's support, holds a super-regional class in computational science, an emerging scientific-academic field in high demand. This field relies on the abilities of advanced computers to build simulations, investigate them, and compare their results to real-world situations.
Computational science makes it possible to address questions that seem too complicated to solve otherwise. Moreover, computers are also key to monitoring elaborate experiments and in running models and simulations.
Computational science has been taught successfully at the Davidson Institute for a number of years, and the program is accredited by the Education Ministry and the Council for Higher Education as a unique 5-point matriculation subject. Thanks to this designation, program graduates receive a bonus on the course grade when applying to academic studies. Many of the program’s graduates are accepted to elite IDF units and continue on to pursue university degrees.
Beyond its contribution to students' scientific knowledge, the program also empowers participants, instilling in them confidence in their skills and their ability to tackle complex problems and challenges.
For more information, visit the Hebrew site.
