Senior Research
Honors Research & Mentorship
(2 weighted high school science credits)
Senior Research Syllabus 25-26
Students explore advanced topics in scientific research with an emphasis on scientific literature and methods, leading to the preparation of a research proposal in conjunction with their mentorship work. Students will prepare research documents for professional presentations. The mentorship involves students in concentrated research or project development in firms and laboratories throughout the Tidewater region, supervised by mentors who are scientists, engineers, physicians, and other professionals. During the mentorship, students plan, implement, document, and present their chosen research or projects in consultation with their mentors. This process refines their research and presentation techniques, problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, and leadership skills. Proficiency with statistical software, such as Excel, is gained for data presentation and analysis. Moreover, students explore the evolving field of data science at an introductory level, providing a broad overview of its use and application in daily life. They learn to think critically about the ethics of data collection and analysis in research, industry, and government. Programming is integral to the course, focusing on learning how to program in R, a language for statistics and data science. Overall, the course covers introductory statistics, the ethical considerations of data analysis and collection, and programming for data analysis in R. It provides students with an opportunity to integrate theory, knowledge, and application through a comprehensive research experience. Prerequisite: GSST Research Methodology & Ethics course.