Varsity Research Teams are small groups of high school students dedicated to completing a research project. Our 30+ years of experience engaging students in authentic, community-driven research has taught us that smaller cohorts function best. Varsity Research students, therefore, are committed to the research team– just as varsity athelets are committed to a team.
Varsity Research teams mimic the work of professional scientists, much the same as varsity athletes aspire to emulate professional performance. We hold the same aspirations for our students– conduct research the same way that real scientists in the real world do their work. This means mistakes are expected; problems are anticipated, though what they look like when they actually appear are rarely predictable. Outcomes aren’t guaranteed. But, one perseveres. The same is true for sports.
As one of our recent graduates told us,
“CSCR has definitely shaped how I view learning. For a while I thought that learning was only measured by tests or quizzes, but by being a part of CSCR, I learned that learning is about making mistakes and problem solving to reach your goals. I also love how collaborative and student-led the CSCR environment is. It has taught me really good listening skills and leadership skills and those will definitely be helpful for my future academic career. CSCR is an experience that very few kids my age have been lucky enough to be a part of, and I’m so thankful for all the things I’ve learned, the people I’ve met, and the things I’ve accomplished. Thank you again for an amazing 5 years!”
The bulk of Varsity Research takes place during the summer, but kicks off with spring meetings. Fall and winter meetings follow summer research so that teams are prepared to present their findings at our spring time State of the Harbor Community Forum. This is the simply the research cycle, the authentic rhythm of professional research teams.
If this is the right fit for you, please register today.
Summer Research Orientation:
- We will hold the same orientation on two different days- May 17 and May 21. We expect all students to attend the one that best fits their calendar. We also encourage parents to attend, for we will be reviewing important school credit information, among other important opportunities and obligations.
- May 17 is a Wednesday; we will meet from 7:00 – 8:00 pm to accommodate students participating in spring activities.
- May 21 is the following Sunday; we will meet from 11:00 – 12:00, and again from 12:30 – 1:30, should families need such flexibility on a Sunday.
Summer Research Start and End Dates: We will be up and running with a full head of research steam by June 1, as we welcome our college interns. By June 26, we anticipate that all public school students will be available to kick off the research season. However, we will be reaching out to registered students to join after school training programs throughout the month of June, especially as spring sports and other activities come to a close. On August 21, we will hold an end of the year research summit to share accomplishments.
Calendar explanation: The calendar above is a prototypical week. Bacteria monitoring, for example, meets in the early morning each Tuesday, Wed, and Thursday. Likewise, the Watershed team (in blue) meets Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons from 12:30 – 3:30. As stated above, one can expect this calendar to be in operation from at least June 26 – August 21, 2023.