Explore Data Science
Summer Camp for rising 11th through 12th graders
July 8-12, 2024 (rising 11th-12th grade)
Our modern world generates and captures a HUGE amount of data. Companies, schools and other organizations are clamoring for data scientists to tell them what the data means and help them make good decisions for the future. Data scientists work creatively to capture, maintain, protect, process, and analyze data. They make models to predict outcomes and solutions to global problems and communicate their findings—both visually and verbally. Data science combines technical foundations with the study of human contexts and ethics of data.
This camp is for rising 11th and 12th graders who want to explore data science before going to college! Campers will learn how to use data sets and apply their skills to interesting and important problems, e.g., to:
- design experiments to rapidly figure out the most important variables
- understand how babies learn language
- design better drugs to cure cancer
- track epidemics/pandemics to help protect lives
- predict when a volcano will erupt or a coastline will sink
- help sports teams make strategic decisions.
No previous programming experience is expected for this camp. Campers should have completed Algebra I and one other math class.
Cost: $1000
Camp fees cover faculty instructional time, equipment, supplies, room and board, resident assistants and program assistants. If your child will need a scholarship to participate, please so indicate on the registration form. Families are responsible for transportation to/from the Virginia Tech campus.
Registration is now closed: all camps are full.
Day 1
- Check in and move into dorm 1:30-2:30 pm
- Orientation, ice-breakers, and team-building with RAs and PAs
- Introduction to Data Science
- Dinner
- Team games near residence hall
- Team meeting
- Free time in dorm or quad
- Lights out at 11pm
Day 2
- Breakfast
- Using Python to analyze data relevant to pre-college students
- Game theory and experiemental economics
- Lunch
- Statapults 1
- Dinner
- Careers in Data Science: panel and networking with professionals
- Team meeting
- Free time in dorm or quad
- Lights out at 11pm
Day 3
- Breakfast
- Geodesy-Using GPS to predict the Earth's movements (part 1)
- Lunch
- Statapults 2
- Geodesy-Using GPS to predict the Earth's movements (part 2)
- Dinner
- Breakzone
- Team meeting
- Free time in dorm or quad
- Lights out at 11pm
Day 4
- Breakfast
- Data to analyze human behavior and decisions
- Data ethics
- Maps and GPS
- Lunch
- Statapults 3
- Telling a story with data
- Dinner
- Group activities or free time near/in dorm
- Team meeting
- Lights out at 11pm
Day 5
- Breakfast
- Modeling the spread of diseases
- Best strategies for applying to college and getting the most out of college
- Check out of camp and dorm
- Optional, post-camp session with VT admissions