High School Program

Sunday, January 10, 2021 – CU2MiP High School Edition

(Lab Tour Videos will be available starting Friday, January 8th, 2021. Take a look into the world physics at UMD and NIST, and meet the physicists that make it all happen.)

  • 10:00 am – Conference Kick Off! Welcome and Overview
    • Donna Hammer, Director of Education, Department of Physics, UMD
    • Erin Lukomska-Schlauch, Flowers High School, Prince George’s County Public Schools
    • Steve Rolston, Professor and Physics Department Chair, University of Maryland
    • Landry Horimbere, Graduate Student, UMD
    • Delilah Gates, Graduate Student, Harvard University
  • 10:15 am – Get Pumped Up about Physics!
    Networking activity: share experiences. Talk with graduate and undergraduate students about why they chose physics and why you should too!
  • 11:00 am – Honored plenary Speaker: Willie Rockward,
    Professor and Department Chair, Morgan State University
    • Your Pathway in Physics using Passion, Purpose, and Problem-solving
  • 12:00 pm – Break and Mentors Available to Chat
  • 1:00 pm – Guest Student Speaker: Anisha Musti,
    High School Student, Q-munity CEO
    • How a high school student built one of the largest quantum tech communities!
  • 1:30 pm – Quantum Science Showcase
    What is quantum science? How will it shape the future? Learn about exciting quantum research happening in our region!
    • Dr. William Phillips, Distinguished University and College Park Professor of Physics, NIST and JQI Fellow, co-recipient of 1997 Nobel Prize of Physics
  • 2:00 pm – Networking and Mentoring Session: Got Questions?  We’ve got Answers!
    This is a great opportunity to join small group discussions to explore the college application process, internships, and life as a physics undergraduate student.
  • 3:00 pm – Break and Mentors Available to Chat
  • 3:30 pm – Why is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Important for STEM?
    Join this discussion to learn about the importance of EDI in STEM, and how we are all making a difference.
    •  Sergio Smith, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Barbados
    • Delilah Gates, Graduate Student, Harvard University
    • Albert Rigosi, Physicist, National Institute of Standards and Technology
  • 4:00 pm – Women in STEM Discussion
    This session will feature experts in their fields reflecting on their experiences as women in STEM.
    • Dalia Ornelas Huerta, Postdoctoral Researcher, UCLA
    • Alana Dixon, Undergraduate Physics Major, UMD
    • Ananya Sitaram, Graduate Student, UMD
    • Amber McCreary, Physicist, Northrop Grumman
  • 4:30 pm – Why Physics UMD Demo Show Video!
    Join the UMD Physics Outreach Team for a fun and exciting program of physics demonstrations that will inspire you.  Meet the physics majors in the video and learn why physics has changed their lives!
  • 5:00 pm – Present Your Work: Poster/Project Session and Awards Communicating science is a vital skill!  This is a great opportunity to present your work and win a prize!
  • Conclusion of Conference

  • Coding Workshop/Building Demos Workshop
    In these hands-on workshops, you will have fun and refine your STEM skills. NOTE: Due to the necessary time commitment, these workshops will be offered to high school CU2MiP attendees in spring.