How many students are accepted to the program?
There are places for 25-30 students each year.

What will I be doing in the program?
You will be working under the guidance of a scientist at Arizona State University, either a faculty member or graduate student, on an original research problem being investigated by that scientist. You typically will have the opportunity to develop and investigate your own research problem related to the questions being investigated by your mentor.

How much time will I have to spend on the program?
Participants are expected to work a minimum of 24 hours each month on their projects, and should expect to spend more time towards the end of the program when they are preparing their projects for CARSEF. The work schedule is set individually with the mentor and depends upon the requirements of the project. You might work two Saturdays a month for a full day each, or you might come in once a week for four hours and do two hours of work at home. These are but two of many possibilities.

How long does the program last?
The program runs from September through March. Students may continue to work with their mentors after the project period ends by individual arrangement.

Is there a summer program?
SCENE does not currently offer a summer research program, but may do so in the future.

Where will I be working?
You will be working in science laboratories at Arizona State University, or at outdoor field sites, or a combination of both, depending upon the project.

What are the projects?
Projects change every year and depend upon the research interests of the scientists who are mentors. If you are accepted to the program, you will receive a list of current projects with your acceptance letter. To see descriptions of past projects, click here.

Will I get to choose the project I want to work on?
In most cases. After receiving a brief written description of available projects, you will attend at meeting at which mentors describe their work and answer questions. At the end of the meeting, you will complete a project selection sheet prioritizing your top three choices. Every effort is made to place you with your first choice project, but it is not always possible to do so. Students participating for a second or third year receive preference in placements. Sophomores spend fall semester in reading and discussion groups with the mentors of the two projects in which they are most interested, and then choose one of those projects on which to focus during the spring semester.

How do I apply to the program?
Complete the application form and follow the directions to submit it. Be sure to submit only one copy of the application.

When are applications submitted?
Applications may be submitted during August and early September each year, until the application deadline. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is the second Monday in September each year.

How are applications evaluated?
Applications are reviewed by two staff members. Students must agree to each of the commitments listed on the application form, provide their own transportation to the work site, and have enough time available to participate fully. Once the basic requirements are met, we evaluate the student essay, lab report or science paper submitted, and academic transcript. Successful applicants have a strong, demonstrable interest in science, some understanding of what is involved in scientific research, and are excellent students. An ability to think and write clearly, as demonstrated in the essay, is also important.

How will I find out if I was accepted?
You will receive a letter notifying you of the status of your application, as well as an email if you provide an email address on your application. Telephone calls inquiring about application status are not accepted. You will be notified within three weeks of the submission deadline.

How do I get the scholarship?
Only juniors and seniors in the program are eligible to receive scholarships. You must complete the program satisfactorily in order to qualify for the scholarship. That means meeting the commitments outlined in the program application, presenting your work at the final session, participating in the Central Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair (CARSEF), and being evaluated by your mentor as having made satisfactory progress towards the learning objectives.

What are the learning objectives?
Click here to see a list of objectives.

Is the scholarship just for ASU?
You may use the scholarship money at any institution of higher learning.

How are scholarships paid?
Students submit a brief form and a copy of the admission letter from the college at which they intend to matriculate. Scholarship checks are made out directly to the student at the end of their senior year in high school.

What about the science fair (CARSEF)?
Junior and senior students are required to enter their SCENE projects in the Central Arizona Science and Engineering Fair (CARSEF), and sophomores are encouraged, but not required, to do so. CARSEF is held annually in late March or early April. CARSEF offers financial awards and recognition, as well as the experience of discussing your work with judges who are professional scientists. Past participants have found CARSEF a rewarding experience that adds to their appreciation of the value of their work, and the program has a record of producing winning projects. To learn more about CARSEF, visit http://carsef.asu.edu

What else can I do with my work?
There are a number of other competitions in which you may wish to enter your work, including the Arizona Junior Science and Humanities Symposium http://azjshs.asu.edu , the Westinghouse Competition http://siemens-foundation.org/, and the Intel Science Talent Search http://www.sciserv.org/sts/ Past participants have also published papers in academic journals and presented their work at professional conferences.

Is the scholarship just for ASU?
You may use the scholarship money at the college of your choice.

How many students are accepted to the program?
Fewer than half of all applicants are admitted. Typically there are twelve to sixteen places in the program each year.

How are applications evaluated?
Applications are reviewed by a minimum of two staff members. Students must agree to each of the commitments listed on the application form, must find their own transportation to the work site, and must have enough time available to participate fully. Once the basic requirements are met, we evaluate based upon the student essay and the teacher recommendation. Successful applicants demonstrate a strong interest in science, some understanding of what is involved in scientific research, and are rated as exceptional by their teachers. An ability to think and write clearly, as demonstrated in the essay, is also important.

What about the science fair, CARSEF?
Students are strongly encouraged to enter their projects in the Central Arizona Science and Engineering Fair (CARSEF), which is held each year at the end of March. CARSEF offers financial awards and recognition, as well as the experience of presenting your work to judges who are scientists. Past participants have found CARSEF a rewarding experience that adds to their appreciation of the value of their work, and the program has a strong record of producing winning projects. To learn more about CARSEF, click here.

What else can I do with my work?
There are a number of other competitions in which you may wish to enter your work, including the Arizona Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, the SiemensWestinghouse Competition, and the Intel Science Talent Search. Past participants have also published papers in academic journals and presented their work at professional conferences.