A woman's place is anywhere she chooses to be. The USC Summer Science Program for High School Women invites young women to be a part of a community of scientists discovering and exploring the aquatic and terrestrial life of Catalina Island and its surrounding waters.

This field-oriented program challenges young women to explore ecological and biological principles through an interactive approach to learning. Field and laboratory research, self-guided experiments, and educational simulations instruct students about the interaction between physical, chemical, and biological components of the environment, as well as the impact that human activities can have on it. Science is integrated with cultural and social studies to offer a well-rounded view of an island ecosystem. A dynamic community of women scientists is built through team projects, instructional and recreational activities, and mentoring programs. Students interact with graduate and faculty women who are studying various aspects of science and explore diverse careers in environmental, biological, and physical sciences.

 

Exceptional Facilities

Located on Catalina Island, approximately 20 miles off the coast of Los Angeles, the USC Philip K. Wrigley Marine Science Center is the heart of the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies. Generous gifts from the Wrigley family have transformed the center into a stat-of-the-art laboratory and teaching facility. Catalina's proximity to an urban center and the island's protected status provide an excellent site for marine and terrestrial investigations. The USC Sea Grant Program, an integral part of the USC Wrigley Institute, provides public information about issues related to the marine environment. The curriculum for this camp was developed by Sea Grant as a part of the Island Explorers Program.