What is the Youth STEM Institute?
YSI is a week-long program sponsored by the Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) for middle schoolers in Ohio. Designed to provide hands-on experience with computers, math, science and engineering, YSI helps youth develop an interest in these subjects by allowing them to work on practical, interesting scientific problems using the latest computer technology.
YSI, previously known as the Youth Watershed Institute (YWSI), was established by Steven Gordon, who stewarded the program from 2000 to 2018. Gordon served in various roles at OSC, including interim co-executive director, deputy director and senior director of education.
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Who is eligible to apply?
Ohio residents in 6th and 7th grade (in the 2024-2025 school year) and K-12 science and math teachers.
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Program Details
Dates
YSI will take place twice in the summer of 2025. Once virtually and once in-person.
Applicants can apply for either session of the program or both, with an opportunity to indicate a preference between the two. Due to limited capacity, applicants who indicate availability for either program will have an increased likelihood of acceptance.
Virtual session: June 23-27, 2025.
In-person session: July 13-18, 2025.
Applications open January 15 and close on April 1. Accepted students are notified in May.
Application Deadline
Deadline: April 1, 2025
We will begin notifying accepted students in early May 2025.
Cost
$360 per attendee.
This fee of $60 per day covers housing, meals, program tuition, laboratory visits, insurance, chaperones, social activities, and equipment costs. It's worth noting that the program costs are heavily subsidized by external funding sources, as it actually costs OSC approximately four times more than what attendees are charged. Essentially, all participants are recipients of program scholarships, and, therefore, individualized scholarships are not available.
Location
Ohio Supercomputer Center
1224 Kinnear Road
Columbus, Ohio 43212
Activities
YSI is designed to offer an enriching educational and recreational experience by combining engaging lectures, interactive tours, and group project work with frequent recreational breaks and exciting evening activities on The Ohio State University's campus.
Example Academic Activities
Lectures:
- Introduction to Watersheds
- Water Ecology / Analysis
- Fundamentals of the Water Cycle
- Presentation Skills
- Betty Lise Anderson Engineering Presentation / Activity
Tours:
- Big Darby Creek
- Byrd Polar
- Chadwick Arboretum
Projects
Attendees will participate in projects that require them to analyze data and visualize results. Individual projects introduce fundamental computer skills and provide students with an understanding of a variety of computer applications. During the program, students will become familiar with spreadsheet and presentation software. Read more about these projects.
Example Recreational Activities
- Swimming
- Movie Night
- Board Game Night
- Scrapbooking
Care, Custody and Control
OSC is committed to providing the best experience possible for youth involved in our summer programs. Staff is expected to hold themselves to the highest standards of conduct when interacting with youth. OSC Summer programs follow Ohio State's Youth Activities and Programs Policy, which establishes requirements that safeguard the well-being of youth.
Daily Routine
Consistent elements of a day at YSI
| Time | |
|---|---|
| ~7:30 AM | Breakfast at an Ohio State dining hall |
| ~8:30 AM | Campus bus to OSC |
| ~9:00 AM | Group touch point |
| ~Noon | Lunch at OSC |
| ~4:30 PM | Daily survey |
| ~5:30 PM | Campus bus to dorm |
| ~6:00 PM | Dinner at an Ohio State dining hall and various activities |
| ~9:00 PM | Curfew in dorm |
| ~11:00 PM | Lights out |
Contact Information
(614) 292-9248 or si-contact@osc.edu
Program Impact
Assessment Survey Results
After completing the post-YSI survey, students and parents alike note a greater confidence among the attendees in their use of technology, math and science classes, school presentations, and problem-solving abilities.
Activities and Targeted Outcomes
Each activity has been designed with a targeted outcome in mind. For example, see several of the activities below.
| Activity | Description | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Science project: discover the human activities that impact water quality | Use data from a real watershed to relate land use, water pollution, and habitat information to the biological and physical quality of the stream | Uses qualitative and quantitative data, interdisciplinary group project, holistic study, hands-on, constructivist approach, topic focuses on middle school science standards |
| Introductory games with science terminology | Use the terms and definitions of science materials they will need for their project | Hands-on, not competitive, makes learning fun |
| Career night | Career review with individuals of scientific and technical achievements; play a career game created by OSC staff | Provides role models, knowledge of career options, game constructed with prizes for everyone, not competitive |
YWSI 2024 Recap Video
