ISSI 2023 Program: July 2-25, 2024

The first three weeks of the program 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, the 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.

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.

Location:

The first three weeks of the program are spent in the laboratories of the Institute.

The fourth week is spent with extensive hikes in the Judean desert, near the Dead Sea, the Negev as well as Eilat.

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, 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. Tours 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.

Here’s what past participants said about the program:

“I did the ISSI program in 1992 and it was one of the most amazing and formative experiences of my life. I met and became friends with an incredible group of students from around the world, participated in frontier leading research, experienced and learned about the rich multicultural history of Israel, and was able to observe and participate in what I believe is the most collaborative and integrated research institute globally.”  – Dr. Cory Goldberg, 1992

“ISSI empowered me to discover a new meaning to science. It enabled me to explore not only my scientific field of interest, but learn about different scientific categories and discoveries. The experience allowed me to challenge myself amongst my peers and redesign how I perceive research. Being surrounded by students from Canada and across the world brought about a vast amount of knowledge and ideas to our summer experience, and will forever be a cherished experience for me.”  – Alexia Elbaz, 2019

“My experience as an intern at the Nir Davidson lab outshone each and every practical lab work I had done prior in my life. When it came to forming strong friendships and solidifying my interest in Physics, the three weeks I spent at the Weizmann Institute of Science had a bigger impact on my life than most of my years in high school.” – Artem Buyalo, 2019