Thursday, July 20, 2000

WILMINGTON, NC -- For 93 high school students participating in the Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics Program at UNC Wilmington, Saturday, July 22, is a graduation of sorts. During the past four weeks, program participants have designed and conducted research on a science- or math-related project and will present their results from 8:30 a.m. to noon in UNCW's Dobo Hall.

A highly motivated group, the students will deliver interactive presentations of their research findings using PowerPoint or the World Wide Web, said William Kawczynksi, technical project manager for UNCW's Science and Mathematics Education Center. Examples of projects include a study of fiddler crabs to determine how they sense danger and research on fish behavior, which explored how environmental factors such as color change affects flounder. One student group constructed a wave tank to study erosion. The tank, a 12-foot aquarium-like structure, was used to simulate ocean waves. The group created baffles in an effort to dampen the waves and studied how effective the baffles were in reducing erosion.

Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics is a state-funded competitive program open to North Carolina high school students. It is offered on six campuses of the UNC system and is administered by the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. Summer Ventures students live on campus and participate in research-oriented courses designed for the program. Courses are taught by UNCW faculty and master teachers from New Hanover, Brunswick and Forsythe counties public school systems.

This is the 14th year of the Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics Program at UNCW. This year's student population of rising high school juniors and seniors includes 56 females and 37 males, representing 70 high schools and 41 counties statewide with an average GPA of 3.79.

For more information, contact William Kawczynski or Dr. Michael Smith, program director, at 910/962-4266.