Knox Welcomes SSP International’s Summer Science Program to Campus & Galesburg

After a successful first year hosting high school students from around the world as part of SSP International’s (SSPI) Summer Science Program last summer, Knox College was honored with the opportunity to once again welcome elite high school students from around the world to campus to study astrophysics.

Knox was one of 17 colleges from around the country selected to host the immersive, transformational science immersion experiences, serving as the host for the astrophysics program. Students had the opportunity to engage in space exploration by studying celestial bodies, such as near-Earth asteroids, using astrophysics, calculus, and scientific programming.

“We had a positive experience a year ago,” said Associate Professor of Astronomy and Director of the Knox Observatory Nathalie C. Haurberg ’06. “Knox is one of the few campuses that has an on-campus observatory, so students really enjoyed it.”

Offering Knox- and Galesburg-specific opportunities was a big reason the Summer Science Program returned to Knox and a big goal for Haurberg and the rest of the staff.

“One of the things we strive to do at the Summer Science Program, in addition to the compact academic college experience, is offer a lot of college-like experiences, getting them to see things they’ve never seen before, experiences they haven’t experienced before,” Haurberg said. “Most of the students were visiting the Midwest for the first time,and it was great that they were able to enjoy things about places that are less populated, more rural. And they get that great night sky.”

Another goal of SSP International is to give students a college-like experience with immersive opportunities to learn, do, and engage in science. The astrophysics program allows participants to develop research and critical observation skills with real-world applications, learn to use advanced astronomical technology like telescopes, and meet renowned astrophysicists and planetary scientists.

“It’s been really fun,” said Arjun Bhayani of Milton, Massachusetts. “I’ve been getting a lot closer to people. It was really challenging at first, but I’ve learned so much already.”

And while the program is a hands-on, immersive science experience, it also allows students to become familiar with an unfamiliar community, which they took advantage of. 

“While it is kind of on the rural side, Galesburg has a lot of stuff going on, more than I thought,” said Christopher Xia of Saratoga, California. “Galesburg is a train hub; we went to get ice cream, I saw the brewery, and we went to the food fest. It is a lively town.”

The students also explored the Knox campus, taking in the College’s open spaces for different activities and group bonding.

“With the vast amount of space we have outside, we’ve been throwing Frisbees as if our lives depended on it; it’s been great. I’ve gotten a lot better at throwing, so it's a new experience,” said Yabsira Habte of Cincinnati, Ohio, adding, “I really like the greenery. We went out to Green Oaks, and we could see the stars. It wasn't covered up by the streetlights or the artificial light that you usually see in the city.”

The off-campus Green Oaks research and recreation area offered students the chance to explore the Midwest's natural landscape. And while nature was a new and pleasant experience for astronomy students, Green Oaks offered something they usually do not get to experience at home while also allowing them to grow closer as a group.

“Green Oaks was so fun. It was my first time seeing the Milky Way, which is insane,” Bhayani said.

Jing Shi of Brookline, Massachusetts, also enjoyed the Midwestern landscape. “It was so dark, we were able to see all the details in the sky that you don’t get to see in the city or any other suburb in the area,” she said. “The environment is a little different here; I can see cornfields, miles and miles away. Back at home, it’s just houses and apartments. I think we’re building a community here.”

“Giving the students here experiences that are unique to the places they are is something that is looked at very positively,” Haurberg said. “We gave unique Galesburg experiences, not just college experiences. We were able to expose them not only to what college is like, but what college is like in Galesburg at Knox, and that was nice for students and something SSPI likes.”