June 28, 2007

Clark to host "Minds, Matter and Medicine in the 21st Century" this July

Worcester, Mass. - From July 9 to July 27, twenty high school seniors will participate in Clark University's summer science program, "Minds, Matter, and Medicine in the 21st Century." Participants, who were selected based on outstanding academic records and extracurricular activities related to science, hail from 14 states.

Participants will attend two lectures every morning and laboratory sessions every afternoon. They will study gene therapy in the brain, origins of living systems, x-ray crystallography, genes and genomes, bioinformatics, biological development, and mammalian cell culture. They will ponder whether or not there are cures for cancer, Parkinson's disease or even old age.

Students enrolled in the program stay in a residence hall on campus and experience a taste of college academic and social life. Faculty provide lectures and laboratories, and counsel the students in everything from note-taking, time management, to planning for graduate studies and preparing for careers in medicine.

College credit is given for the course, and tuition, room, and board are provided at no cost to the participants.
Associate Professor of Chemistry David Thurlow said the program, now in its sixth year, attracted well over 150 applicants this year, and the pool of students was "more impressive than ever."