Summer Research &
Innovation Program

A History of Water: Space, Environment and Public Policy in Western NC  (2 weeks)

In the Fall of 2024, Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina and the region is still in midst of recovery.  This is not the first time that our region has dealt with radical transformations of our landscape.  Some, like the Great Flood of 1916 and Hurricane Helene, were caused by natural disasters, while others were man-made changes like the creation of Lake James by Duke Power and the opening of I-40.  

In this class we will explore some key historical events that have transformed Western North Carolina through historical documents, secondary sources, and the policies and decisions made by local governments.  By the end of the course students will create a research proposal on environmental history that they will present at the SRIP Research Symposium.  While this is a research and writing course, students will also participate in field trips to relevant local sites.

• Interest in historical and/or social science research.  Organized and detail-oriented.

*Photography courtesy of State Archives of North Carolina

Data Science Service Learning (3 weeks)

NCSSM students will apply their data science skills in small teams to help a local Burke County community organization solve a problem using data. During the 5-week program, each team of NCSSM students will learn about their community organization through weekly on-site visits and learn data science skills and methodologies from graduate students at NC State's Data Science Academy. NCSSM students can expect to analyze data, interpret results, and communicate the impact of their work to their stakeholders.

Community partner projects may include developing more effective member/donor databases, analyzing trends in the utilization of services, optimizing resource allocation, or finding new insights that better achieve the organizations' missions. 

• Students should have completed an introductory course in Data Science (such as MA4110 Foundations of Data Science), statistics, and/or computer programming. Students don't need to have completed coursework in all three areas, but they'll be working on a team where all of these experiences need to be present.

Harmony and Healing: Exploring Music Therapy for Dementia Care (2 weeks)

This Summer Research and Innovation Project (SRIP) at NCSSM explores the transformative power of music in dementia care. Music therapy is one of the most valuable non-pharmacological interventions for individuals with memory loss, offering meaningful connection and joy even when communication and cognitive skills have deteriorated. Participating in musical experiences can help people with dementia recall memories, improve mood, and engage socially despite significant neurological decline.

Students will investigate the neuroscience behind music and memory, examine research on music therapy interventions, and collaborate on innovative approaches for enhancing quality of life in dementia care settings. Through literature reviews, site visits to local long-term care facilities, and hands-on facilitation of music therapy sessions, students will gain first-hand experience observing the impact of music on emotional expression, cognitive function, and community-building among residents. The program culminates with student teams presenting their findings and creative proposals for future therapeutic applications.

• The only musical skill required for this SRIP is a willingness to keep a steady beat with handheld percussion instruments like rhythm sticks, shakers and hand drums. This musical experience is more about having fun while engaging with people that are facing dementia, while observing any transformation that may occur. During rhythmic activities individuals participate in rhythmic body movement, drumming, auditory stimulation, and playing musical instruments, to name a few.

Mapping Folklore Across Western North Carolina (2 weeks)

Are you familiar with some of the prevailing folktales associated with Western North Carolina? What were the socio-political and socio-economic origins of these tales, and how have they circulated and been preserved? And why do these paranormal narratives still resonate with us?

This interdisciplinary SRIP will mirror collegiate folklore studies and introduce students to ethnography, history, and the study of popular culture by providing opportunities for students to research folktales of the Old North State as literary texts.

During our two weeks together, we will explore and analyze folktales, paying particular attention to their literary structure, historical and social contexts, and the multiple interpretations they invite us to consider. We will discover overlapping patterns in these stories and attempt to map their connections and places of origin to see whether natural disasters, political conflicts, personal tragedies, or unexplained phenomena played a role in their origins.

We will also go on field trips to sites and archives in Asheville, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Linville Falls and conduct independent research projects. Students will share the fruits of their research in an academic essay or in a creative project that grows out of their study of a folk tradition in their own family or hometown. 

Join us as we dive into local and regional archives, examine oral traditions and literary texts, and conduct online and on-the-ground research to uncover the fascinating connection between Western North Carolina folk narratives and our state’s history.

• None

Social Impact & Entrepreneurship (2 weeks)

This two-week summer program blends classroom learning with hands-on problem solving. Students explore the fundamentals of social entrepreneurship, including nonprofit structures, governance, ethics, and social impact frameworks. Working in small teams, they take on a real challenge from a community partner, apply what they have learned, and deliver actionable solutions. The experience builds practical skills in leadership, teamwork, and communication while showing how entrepreneurship can be a powerful tool for creating social good.

This is opportunity is being offered in partnership with District C.

Robotics Design Exploration (2 weeks)

Students will get the opportunity to conduct an in-depth exploration of the field of Robotics. Students will create team-based robotic designs and software development within mobile or underwater environments. Software topics may include; A.I., Machine Learning, Computer Vision, and Path Planning. Students will also learn to use the Fab Lab metal shop equipment for the custom fabrication of their designs.

• Intermediate skills in Python/C++ and CAD software

• Prior experience in robotics preferred