Directed Research

The ongoing evaluation of science students’ class and laboratory performance acquires an additional focus in the middle of the Sophomore year. At that point, science teachers from all the disciplines begin identifying candidates for the RKYHS Directed Research Program. Outstanding performance and high creativity, coupled with a track record of focus and perseverance, qualify a student for an invitation to the Junior year of the Directed Research Program.

As Juniors, participants are introduced in twice-weekly seminars to basic statistics for data acquisition-evaluation, to computer literature-search methods for identifying promising research projects, and to realities of the time-budget-equipment-expertise constraints of pursuing that research. They are also introduced to scientists active in a number of scientific fields, who have graciously agreed to share their experiences. As the year progresses, emphasis shifts to experimental design, technical and grant writing, computer applications, and data-analysis statistics. Throughout the year, the young researchers are immersed in learning and applying the multiplex craft of the scientific enterprise, honing their skills in the studied selection, pursuit and perfection of their own research projects.

The RKYHS Directed Research Program continues into the Senior year, during which class/seminar is conducted once weekly, giving more time for supervised laboratory research activities. The intense two-year focus on theory and experiment has a keen real-world edge; for, the projects are developed to be measured in prestigious state and national competitions against the very best that other schools’ young, talented proto-scientists are producing. An illustrative sampling of RKYHS Directed Research Program project: gene-manipulation of rapidly-growing plants; electro-reduction of 1,3-dibromo-indigo; and optimization studies of road surfacing materials.

The students in the Directed Research Program are among the best and brightest of this generation. Entry into that select cadre is open only to a few; standards to be maintained are rigorous. All Directed Research Juniors take Honors Physics at a special accelerated pacing set to accommodate the several days per week of the class/seminar component of Directed Research; several of the students are also taking AP Chemistry. As Seniors they have a full spectrum of AP and Honors courses to pursue. In developing and conducting the advanced course/lab work of the Directed Research Program, RKHYS is profiting from its firm commitment to excellence, from its outstanding system of multiple and flexible tracking, and from its rich human and material resources—superb, creative faculty and sophisticated technical infrastructure. Most importantly, RKYHS is tapping into the vast reserves of potential of some of our most gifted science students, providing them with the methods and tools, the setting and opportunity, the encouragement and synergy, to actualize that potential.