Programs
SALK MOBILE SCIENCE LAB | 2023-2024 Applications are Open
Education Outreach brings the world of discovery directly to the classroom.
The Salk Mobile Science Lab travels to middle schools throughout San Diego County, bringing a free, three-day program designed to deliver a science experience students can’t get from a textbook. Students study fruit flies under a microscope, isolate plant DNA and learn about techniques of DNA analysis, all hands-on activities have proven to increase their interest in the biological sciences.
Since it first hit the road in 1996, the Salk Mobile Science Lab visits dozens of schools and community events every year. In the past 10 years alone, it has reached more than 20,000 students.
Click here to learn more about our NGSS aligned program.
HEITHOFF-BRODY HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER SCHOLARS
Online applications for the 2023 Heithoff-Brody High School Summers Scholars program are closed. Thank you for your interest.
Every summer, the Salk Institute accepts a small group of high school students to work in a lab side-by-side with Salk scientists on cutting-edge research. During the paid internship students will spend most of their time in the lab with their mentor while also being expected to participate in seminars, workshops, data analysis projects and other enrichment activities. At the end of the eight-week program, students present their research projects to their mentors, lab peers and families. At the end of the program, students will present their research projects to an audience of their mentors, lab members and families.
The Heithoff-Brody Scholars Program at the Salk Institute is open to students 16 years and older who reside and attend school in San Diego County. The application is now closed.
SCICHATS@SALK
SciChats@Salk is a free virtual interactive experience that pairs students in a classroom (or an alternative learning setting) with a volunteer scientist for an interactive conversation about what it’s like to be a scientist. SciChats@Salk gives students a clearer picture of how science progresses, encourages them to imagine a future for themselves as scientists, and illustrates the contributions that science makes to our society.
ELLEN POTTER RESEARCH CONNECTIONS FOR TEACHERS SYMPOSIUM
Save the date, Wednesday March 20th 2024, for our next teacher’s symposium: Asking the Right Questions of Plants, Technology, & Students.
Teachers are invited to hear from Salk faculty and researchers in a seminar environment, then collaborate with colleagues to apply what they have learned to create Next Generation Science Standards aligned lesson plans applicable to their classrooms.
Please click here to view the recording from the October 2020 seminar.
Salk Activity Kits
Education Outreach offers free training and equipment for teachers to perform biotechnology activities in their own classrooms on their own schedule. Click here for more information about each kit. Email education@salk.edu for upcoming required training workshops.
For more information on any of the Education Outreach Programs, email education@salk.edu.
MARCH OF DIMES HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE DAY
Once a year, the Salk Institute opens its doors to hundreds of students and their teachers for an extraordinary day designed to ignite interest in life sciences and illuminate the pathways to scientific research careers. The event features Salk scientists sharing stories of their work life, lab tours and the opportunity to participate in current scientific experiments.
This program is generously supported by the Anne and Neal Blue High School Science Fund.
Click here to learn more about the history of Salk Institute and the March of Dimes Foundation.