THE SUMMER INSTITUTE

So far it has been about one and a half weeks and we have done a lot of things. All the first year students are taking two classes, webpage making and computers. Webpage making has been fun so far. I have learned, basically, how to make a webpage. I started out not knowing anything about webpages and HTML and now I feel that I have a pretty good idea of what HTML is and the making of webpages. In computer class, we are just going over basic computer skills that may have been forgotten. We have learned how to make and write things in Aldus Pagemaker and Superpaint. I find it fun getting to be creative and make things in the paint programs.

Besides the classes, we also have gone on many field trips, watched movies, have had guest speakers, and have done reseach. We have gone to the Perkins Library in Duke University to learn how to find information in a library. We have also gone to the neurology department in UNC hospital. In the neurology department we got to see the radiation that is used to cure brain tumors and computer programs that are used to find the tumors. Other than the field trips to the universities, we also went to the Ropes Course in Pittsboro. In the Ropes course, we were separated in three groups. We had to do group work to overcome obstacles. That was one of the most interesting activities yet!

We have made many guest speakers. We have met a scientist that came to talk to us about the scientific method and the schooling that you will have to go through to become a scientific. He also told us the process of getting a medicine to the stores from a testing laboratory. We have also had a TA show us some equipment that is used in self-defense and marital arts. Also today we had a guest speaker that was working in IBM, he told us about his life and how he became employed at IBM.

Also, we have watched a movie about the virus Ebola. This is a reto-virus that has no cure yet. Once you get Ebola there is a 90% chance that you will die. Ebola is a extremely contagious virus. Most people who have gotten it died in seven to ten days.

Now we are doing research for a field trip in July. Some of us are going to the Duke Primate Center, but most of us, including me are going to the Eno River. We have gotten information of about the water levels in the Eno. We will be measuring and testing the Eno River on the Field trip later.

So far, I have found the Summer Institute very educational and interesting. I am looking forward to the next three and a half weeks this year and the next 2 years to come!

BY WENDY
2000

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Made June 2000