Out of an abundance of caution in response to the COVID-19 national health emergency, the National Youth Science Foundation canceled the in-residence portion of the 2020 National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp). Held in West Virginia since 1963, this is only the second time that the annual program has not been held in the Mountain State.
One-hundred eight delegates representing the United States, Mexico, and Trinidad and Tobago will, however, have the opportunity to connect from home for an exclusive virtual program. The 2020 Virtual NYSCamp features a lecture series, directed studies, breakout seminars, special events, and a panel discussion with STEM policy experts.
NYSCamp Director, Dr. Brian Kinghorn, noted that, “these NYSCamp delegates are some of the best and brightest STEM students from across the nation and deserve to be recognized for their potential for leadership and achievements. The virtual camp will provide them with opportunities to interact with STEM experts, build lasting friendships, and get a jump start on changing the world for good.”
Speakers are selected from among prestigious and up-and-coming STEM professionals who are making a difference in their fields of study and changing the world for good. Dr. Julie Robinson, the former Chief Scientist of the International Space Station, presented the opening lecture on Tuesday and explored the realities of human space exploration. Topics range from exploring and understanding the vastness of space to the microcosms of potential COVID-19 treatments. Delegates will explore the wonders of mathematics, the powerful potential of technology for education, adventures of paleontology, cutting edge neuroscience research, and the varied possibilities of shaping STEM policy.
NYSF Executive Director, Dr. Andrew Blackwood said, “While it is disappointing that the delegates to the 2020 NYSCamp won’t immediately be able to visit our beautiful state, I am very pleased that we have been able to pivot from our traditional residential program to this very impressive virtual program so quickly.”
The delegates will also have opportunities to interact and connect with one another and to join in interactive question and answer sessions with our presenters. Even though they can’t gather in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia, the 2020 Virtual National Youth Science Camp will be an engaging, exciting, and unforgettable experience!
Delegate Yearbook
Photos and information about this year’s delegates can be found here:
https://www.nysacademy.org/programs/nyscamp/2020_virtual_nyscamp/2020-delegate-yearbook/
Lectures
The centerpiece and highlight of this year’s Virtual NYSCamp is the nightly lecture series. Each weeknight during the three weeks of camp delegates can tune in at 8 PM for a world-class lecture by an expert in a STEM field. Recognizing the challenges of tuning in from home during a pandemic, we will also be recording the lectures for later viewing by delegates.
- June 1 Welcome & Orientation
- June 2 Preparing for Human Missions to Mars: Strategy for using ISS and Artemis as Analogs
- Julie Robinson, Ph.D. (ID 1985), NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC
- June 3 How to Use Science and Technology to Improve the World
- Ernie Ting (NJ 1972), Founder and CEO, CivImpact Labs
- June 4 Using Technology to Connect People to the Science, History, Art, and Culture that Surrounds Us
- David Trowbridge, Ph.D., Clio Founder and Associate Professor of History at Marshall University
- June 5 The Wild and Wonderful Sloths of WV (and Beyond): Using Paleontological Techniques on Modern Sloths to Better Understand their Extinct Relatives.
- Ryan J. Haupt, Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Wyoming and Science Fellow at the Geological Society of America
- June 8 Stress Management 101
- Kara Christensen, Ph.D. (SC 2007), Postdoctoral Researcher
- June 9 Genetics, Model Organisms, and You: Or, What You Can Learn from a Worm!
- Nathan Okerlund, Ph.D., Research Scientist at the University of Utah, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- June 10 Adventures at the Science Museum: A Journey to Becoming a Science Communicator
- Kylie Conover, M.A. (NV 2009), Museum Educator at the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum
- June 11 Cutting Edge Antiviral Treatments for HIV, Hepatitis C and Coronaviruses: An Overview of Small Molecule Research & Development
- Michael James Kinghorn, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Gilead Sciences
- June 12 Division, Disinformation, Pandemic, and Politics: Making Sense of 2020
- David Troy, CEO of 410 Labs
- June 13 Virtual Concert by Peter Mulvey
- June 15 The Rectum Is Boss!
- Emily Huang, MD, Med (NJ 2001), Assistant Professor of Surgery, The Ohio State University
- June 16 Electric Vehicles–Altering the Future of Transportation
- Frederick “Rick” Walker, MD (OH 1964)
- June 17 Neuromodulation: Clinical and Experimental Applications
- Jessica Frey, MD (PA 2008), Chief Neurology Resident, West Virginia University
- June 18 STEM Policy Panel Discussion moderated by Josh Shiode, Ph.D. (NV 2003)
- Liz Neeley
- Ana Ferreras
- Richard-Duane Chambers
- Meredith Drosback
- June 19 Farewell Gathering
Directed Studies
Directed studies provide opportunities to delve deeper into a topic with an expert. They are designed as mini courses (whether it is creating an online Clio entry, using online modeling tools, working with a team to think and plan ways to communicate science, etc.). One of the keystones of directed studies is small facilitator to delegate ratio (maximum 15), which allows for deeper learning, discussions, conversations, and mentorship. Within the first 24 hours of camp, 2020 delegates had the opportunity to sign up for two directed studies on a first come first served basis.
- How Statistics Shape Policy with Alyson Wilson, Ph.D.
- Communicating Science with Kylie Conover, M.A.
- Synesthesia with Jessica Frey, M.D.
- Virtual Presence Technology with Simon Solotko
- Developing a COVID-19 Vaccine with Karla Herpolt, Ph.D.
- Creating a Clio Entry with David Trowbridge, Ph.D.
- 3D Printing Design with Mary Pyrdol and Alex Arment
- Design Thinking in Entrepreneurship with Aaron Morris, Ph.D.
- Radio Astronomy with Ellie White
- Microbial Ecology with Kara Tinker, Ph.D.
Breakout Seminars
Breakout seminars, limited to 20 delegates, are designed to be an interactive experience where you can have discussions about a topic (STEM related or not) with someone who is passionate about the topic. Seminars are sometimes presented by experts, but the only real requirement is that the presenter be knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the topic. Many of our presenters kindly agreed to run their seminars multiple times (on different days and times) to accommodate most delegates who wanted to participate.
| Presenter | Title |
| Mona Abdelrahman (ND 2017) | America’s Next Top (Machine Learning) Model: Learn the basics behind machine learning. |
| Joseph Tibbs (IA 2016) | Science of Sound Waves |
| Patrick Robichaud (ID 2016) | Climate Change Discussion |
| Brian Thornber (RI 2017) | Product Design: Making Cool Stuph |
| Art Stormer | A Science Song Sing-Along |
| Chelsea Maher (AL 2010) | Fauxligraphy: An Introduction to Calligraphy |
| Kim Phillip (WI 2014) | Codename: Delegates Next Door |
| Kai Cui (CO 2016) & Monica Mah (CO 2016) | Houston, we have a problem … AND we need YOU to solve it! A taste of mission control from NASA interns |
| Juanca Badilla Rojas (Costa Rica 2014) | Spanish 101 |
| Tate Greene (KY 2016) | What You Wished You Learned in Health Class: Taking Care of Minor Ailments in College |
| Liv Gotte (LA 2018) | The Built Environment and its Role in Health Outcomes in a Population |
| Juanca Badilla Rojas (Costa Rica 2014) | A Brief Talk about Tapirs and Conservation through Education |
| Kara Christensen, Ph.D. (SC 2007) | Sleep from A to Zzz |
| Brian Thornber (RI 2017) | Hackathons: Ivy League Competitions for Everyone |
| Juanca Badilla Rojas (Costa Rica 2014) | Let’s Try to Learn Some Python and Data Analysis in an hour (or more!) |
| Toby Arment (WY 2019) | Society Shapes Science and Science Shapes Society |
| Chelsea Maher (AL 2010) | Beginning Calligraphy: Brush Lettering for Beginners |
| Sidney Taylor (NV 2019) | Juggling |
| Everett Ririe | Intro to Astrophysics |
| Victoria Rose (WV 2019) | Avalon, But Make It Virtual |
| Shantanu Kadam (AL 2018) | Creating Happiness |
| Chelsea Maher (AL 2010) | Leveraging your STEM knowledge in a non-STEM career: A look at Commercial Real Estate |
Cabin Meetings
Each night at camp, the delegates in each cabin gather together with their Cabin Leader to engage in a reflective experience or discussion. Cabin Leaders select a variety of topics to help facilitate these discussions and reflective experiences. Some camp staph (intentional misspelling to connote the infectious enthusiasm of our staff) have kindly volunteered to host some virtual cabin meetings at the 2020 Virtual NYSCamp.
| Presenter | Topic |
| Kylie Conover (NV 2009) | Opening Cabin Meeting |
| Kylie Conover (NV 2009) | REPEAT: Opening Cabin Meeting |
| Liv Gotte (LA 2018) | Imposter Syndrome |
| Liv Gotte (LA 2018) | Building Connections in College |
| Kim Phillip (WI 2014) | Change |
| Kylie Conover (NV 2009) | Embracing Challenges |
| Patrick Robichaud (ID 2016) | What does Science Mean to You? |
| Liv Gotte (LA 2018) | Trailblazing (First generation college students, immigrants, POC, etc.) |
| Jessica Frey, MD (PA 2008) | Dealing with Struggles |
| Toby Arment (WY 2019) | Independence |
| Tate Greene (KY 2016) | Self Confidence—How is it formed? How does it evolve? How do we know if we have the right amount? |
| Kylie Conover (NV 2009) | Finding Joy |
| Emily Gentles (AR 2015) | Learning from Failure |
| Patrick Robichaud (ID 2016) | Looking Back, Looking Forward, Looking In |
| Tate Greene (KY 2016) | Fear |
Laura Dill’s Porch
As part of the 2020 Virtual National Youth Science Camp the 2020 Delegates have been beta testing a new social media platform designed by Ernie Ting (NJ 1972) and his team at CivImpact Labs. The application, called qXtro, is designed to create a space for small group conversations at a virtual conference that mirror what might happen around a lunch table, talking in the hall between sessions, or gathering to get coffee at a physical conference. We’ve called our lobby Laura Dill’s Porch (referring to the porch at the dining hall at Camp Pocahontas) because we’re trying to provide a space for some of the informal conversations that might have happened with delegates, staph, and presenters on the porch at camp or around the breakfast, lunch, or dinner tables.
As the first beta testers of the application, we’ve also been providing Ernie and his team feedback on the glitches in the program along with suggestions for improvement. It has been wonderful to both provide a space for informal conversations and allow the delegates to be part of the testing/design process for this platform that CivImpact Labs will be marketing to big conferences who will be meeting virtually instead of in real life.
Press about the 2020 virtual NYSCamp
https://www.nysacademy.org/wsaz.com/app/2020/07/02/national-youth-science-camp/
