This summer, 164 of the state’s top high school science and mathematics students will arrive at UC Irvine to attend the annual California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS).

Scheduled from July 13 - August 9, the month-long residential academy is designed to inspire a new generation of prospective scientists and engineers. Attending students will enjoy a curriculum of topics not traditionally covered in high school courses, such as astrophysics, neurobiology and Earth system science. Students also will be introduced to an array of off-campus science resources, including NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Palomar Observatory.

“Along with a realistic college experience, COSMOS offers students the opportunity to study with leaders in these fields, such as Nobel Prize-winning UCI chemist F. Sherwood Rowland,� said Melina Duarte, COSMOS’ coordinator. “It’s a month that will inspire students and hopefully build a foundation for future careers in science, mathematics and engineering.�

Students attending the program at UCI come from 22 counties and encompass the spectrum of California’s urban, suburban and rural high schools. All students participating in COSMOS were selected based on excellence in the sciences or mathematics, both in the classroom and through extracurricular activities.

The state of California — in partnership with private gifts from foundations and businesses, plus fees paid by participants who can afford the cost — provides the annual funding for COSMOS, which started in 2000. UC Santa Cruz and UC Davis also host COSMOS programs.