MCDS Summer Research Academy

• Session 1: June 16-20 & June 23-27 (9:00 AM-12:00 PM)

  • Note that there will be no program on July 19 (Juneteenth)

• For students entering: Grades 8-12

• Location: Edgewood College 

Explore the fascinating intersection of nature, biomechanics, engineering and architecture to create innovative and imaginative designs! This hands-on course introduces participants to the design cycle as a tool for developing and improving products inspired by the world around us.

Participants will delve into biological forms, human and animal adaptations, and architectural structures to spark fresh ideas for their projects. Through guided activities, rapid prototyping, and iterative testing, you'll learn to apply concepts from nature and design in new and unexpected ways. Whether you're inspired by the streamlined flight of birds or the organic flow of natural patterns, this workshop will help you bring your creative visions to life.

Open to anyone curious about design and creativity, this workshop is perfect for makers, designers, and problem-solvers looking to expand their toolkit.

Michelle Kramer (she/her), MS is the Chemistry and Environmental Systems & Society (ESS) teacher at Madison Country Day School. She has a master’s degree in Geoscience and undergraduate degrees in chemistry and journalism. In her spare time, she plays with her dogs, builds furniture, and fixes chromebooks.

James Diodato (they/them), MS is the Fabrication Laboratory Director and a Lecturer in Physics at Edgewood College. Their master's degree is in solid state physics, and they hold a BS in physics with emphasis in astronomy and mathematics. After graduate school, they attended Madison College and earned numerous degrees in manufacturing, fabrication, and electronics. In their spare time, they listen to audio books, repair and design electronics projects, and make jewelry.

• Session 1:  June 16-20 & June 23-27 (1:00-4:00 PM)

  • Note that there will be no program on July 19 (Juneteenth)

• For students entering: Grades 8-10

• Location: Edgewood College 

Think like a limnologist! Embark on a two-week field study program where students develop lab techniques and data analysis skills to answer the enduring question: “What is the health of Lake Wingra and what role do humans have in this?” Students will gather data from the field, hear from experts in local limnology, and propose future topics of advocacy for exploration. Instructors have been trained through the University of Wisconsin's Wisconsin Sea Grant program and will be using equipment borrowed from that program to collect water quality data for their research projects. The program will culminate with a State of Lake address where students present research and propose future advocacy opportunities. 

Comfort being on and near the water (e.g. kayaking for 1+ hours at a time) is required.

Katie Klitzke (she/her), MS is a middle school science teacher at MCDS and moonlights as a graphic designer. Katie has a BS in Biology and loves to do science while she travels. As an undergrad she did field research in Australia, through the Research Experience for Teachers program she visited Puerto Rico, and most recently she studied leaf cutter ant colonies in Costa Rica. Katie is set on instilling a passion in students for solving the world's problems while using science and critical thinking. Off the clock, she enjoys hilly hikes and making paper puppet dragons (or any project involving cardboard and glue) with her daughter.

• Session 2: July 7-11 & July 14-18 (9:00 AM-12:00 PM)

• For students entering: Grades 9-12

• Location: Edgewood College 

Zebrafish are a favorite model organism for biologists to study physiology. In this course, we will investigate the effects of exercise on zebrafish as a potential way to mitigate the impacts of conditions such as liver disease, diabetes mellitus, anxiety, and depression. We will use a swim tunnel apparatus to design and implement exercise protocols for zebrafish. Advanced behavioral analysis software will help track and evaluate zebrafish activity, providing insights into their neurological and physiological responses.

Donika Rakacolli (she/her), PhD is a lecturer in the Division of Biological Sciences at Edgewood College. She teaches Pathophysiology and Anatomy & Physiology. Preparing and observing cells under the microscope has been her passion for a long time. Outside school, she takes care of her orchids and loves to bike. 

• Session 2: July 7-11 & July 14-18  (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm)

• For students entering: Grades 8-12

• Location: Edgewood College 

Did you know that you are constantly bombarded with invisible particles from space? In this session, you’ll have the opportunity to study cosmic rays! Cosmic rays are one of the biggest mysteries in astrophysics today. We’ll look at data from the IceCube neutrino observatory (located at the South Pole) and also design our own experiments to learn more about cosmic rays. You’ll have the chance to meet scientists working on the IceCube project and visit their research labs in Madison.  Together, we’ll explore the mysterious and strange lives of subatomic particles.

Rachael Lancor (she/her), PhD is a science teacher and the Research Program Coordinator at Madison Country Day School. Prior to coming to MCDS, she taught physics at Edgewood College and Harvard University. Her master’s project focused on cosmic rays, and she is excited to collaborate with the IceCube outreach team on this summer research program. She has a MS in Physics from the University of Rochester and a PhD in Science Education from UW-Madison. 

Rob Young (he/him), MS is a physics teacher at Edgewood High School.  He has a bachelor's degree in physics from Washington University, a master's degree in physics from the University of Wisconsin, and loves to talk astrophysics and particle physics.

• Session 2: July 7-11 & July 14-18 (9:00 AM-12:00 PM)

• For students entering: Grades 8-12

• Location: Edgewood College 

In this course, we will explore writing as a visual practice. Students will learn how to effectively convey the world around them through imagery, specificity of detail, and narrative strategies that approach “the image” as both subject and inspiration. Throughout our time together, students will engage with a number of voices in published poetry and prose, generate writing in response to prompts, and discuss their creative drafts with peers in a writers' workshop format. At the end of the session, students will be comfortable implementing visual considerations into their writing and will have created a short portfolio of new creative work. 

Laura Romeyn (she/her), MFA is the author of the poetry collection Wild Conditions (Poetry Society of America). She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University, where she was the Poetry Editor of Columbia: A Journal of Literature and Art, and a Wallace Stegner Fellowship in Poetry from Stanford University, where she taught in Pre-Collegiate Studies. Laura's poems have been published widely, including in AGNI, Harvard Review, and The Yale Review. During the school year, she teaches 9th and 10th grade English at Madison Country Day School.

• Session 2: July 7-11 & July 14-18 (1:00 PM-4:00 PM)

• For students entering: Grades 8-12

• Location: Edgewood College 

Pop quiz: what state capital is the home of the oldest publicly-funded historical society in the United States? If you answered Madison, Wisconsin, you’re right! Historians in our area have been preserving documents, collecting stories, interpreting information, and sharing their work with the public since at least 1846 (two years before Wisconsin even became a state!). This course will follow in that rich tradition, as students will learn basic principles of historical inquiry and investigation by working together to identify and solve a local “historical mystery.” Over the course of this session, we will: 

1. get hands-on experience working with different types of documents at area archives, including the Wisconsin Historical Society and local colleges/universities; 

2. find and connect with relevant community organizations to expand and contextualize our knowledge; and 

3. collaboratively create a public history “product” (i.e., an editorial, documentary, podcast, mural, etc.) in order to share our work with a wider audience.

Ben Kasten (he/him), MA is a high school history teacher at Madison Country Day School. Born and raised in Ripon, Wisconsin, he holds a BA from Bowdoin College and MA degrees from the University of London (History & Theory) and UW–Madison (U.S. Cultural & Intellectual History). Lately, he's been interested in landscapes as historical documents, thinking historically about pop culture, and projects that connect historical research with public audiences. When he's not at school he enjoys cooking (and grocery shopping!), hiking all around the Madison area, and spending time with his family.