Appalachian Regional Commission/Oak Ridge National Laboratory Summer Math-Science-Technology Institute

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Oak Ridge Summer STEM Program is a residential, hands-on learning experience for the Appalachian region’s middle and high school students and high school teachers in STEM-related fields. The ARC/ORNL High School Summer Math-Science-Technology Institute is a two-week summer program for high school students and teachers who get to interact and work with scientists from ORNL on inquiry-based, applied projects in science, math, and research-related computer technology. The ARC/ORNL Summer Institute culminates with group presentations by students and teachers about their projects and research findings.

In addition to research, many other activities are incorporated into the program to promote teamwork, expose students to college opportunities, and promote pride in the cultural richness and historical importance of the Appalachian region. The ARC/ORAU Middle School Summer Science Academy is a one-week summer program for middle school students who get to work in collaborative teams with experienced master and assistant teachers to utilize current technologies to answer a research question. The ARC/ORAU Summer Academy culminates with a group presentation on their research project. 

The ARC/ORNL Summer Institute and ARC/ORAU Summer Academy is administered for ARC by ORAU.