Poly Research Initiative

MISSION STATEMENT

The primary mission of the Poly Research Initiative is to create time and space for students to develop intrepid research skills that they can use independently to engage with the real-world. The program develops each student’s research skills through hands-on projects that facilitate sustained inquiry & experimentation, productive failure & reflection, and writing & publication. 

Students will:

• Develop research questions that are testable and connected to a national or global challenge

• Examine primary research literature to inform question and experimental design

• Generate reproducible data to test hypotheses, analyze and refine design

• Present their findings to and use feedback from researchers at academic institutions

• Submit their writing and/or data to an academic journal, national database and a university research review program.

Poly students have four options to engage with the Poly Research Initiative: 

• Through the year-long PolyEnriched Biological Research course in 11th grade

• Through a one-month Summer Research Intensive after their 11th grade

• Through the year-long Neuroscience & Humanities: Food course in their 11th or 12th grade

• Through the Senior Research Elective during 12th grade.