MSL and Origami

For four weeks in August, selected students from around the South Sound participate in a four week summer camp with an important focus. The Math, Science & Leadership (MSL) program at the Institute of Technology is a multi-year program that begins with a summer camp for students who will be entering 7th - 11th grades here in the South Sound.

The goals of the program are to help students recognize and develop their potential to excel in math and science, ease the transition from middle school to high school and high school to college, encourage the pursuit of math and science electives at the high school level and to pursue postsecondary degrees in these fields.

Believe me, we need more scientists and engineers.



I spoke to a class of eighth graders in during the second week and enjoyed myself greatly. They were outgoing, respectful and interested in the discussion. My focus was on origami and its relation to mathematics. In particular I highlighted Robert Lang, a noted physicist and engineer, who has authored or co-authored over 80 technical publications and 40 patents on semiconductor lasers, optics, and integrated optoelectronics.


He has also presented several refereed technical papers on origami-math at mathematical and computer science professional meetings. His profile on CBS 60 minutes was shown during the discussion via the web in a smart classroom, and the feature noted the applications of origami to engineering problems ranging from air-bag design to expandable space telescopes.

And then of course we made cranes.

MSL Kick Off Around the World Lunch

The general hum in the Institute was interrupted by laughter and the russel of pinatas being hoisted into the air on the second floor. Friday, August 3, 2007 was the kick off celebration lunch for the MSL instructional team as well as the staff. The theme was multicultural in nature with everyone in attendance providing a dish from their respective ethnic background or area they had lived. Some of the food items ranged from Indian, Mexican pastries and salsa, southern red beans and rice to fried chicken.

Pinatas decorated the conference room on the second floor. Around the table, each instructor took their turn sharing their particular area of expertise and discussed the intense training they had just completed.

Their enthusiasm was contagious, the food delicious. Monday August 6, the team would be welcoming the 98 students who had registered for this year's program.

As a way of introduction and information our Math, Science & Leadership (MSL) program is a multi-year program that begins with a summer camp for students who will be entering 7th - 11th grades. This exciting, fun and academically challenging summer program runs from August 6-28, 2007, every weekday from 8:30am - 4:30pm

The goals of the MSL include helping students recognize and develop their potential to excel in math, science and leadership, to ease the transition from middle school to high school and high school to college, to encourage the pursuit of math and science electives at the high school level and to encourage students to pursue post secondary degrees in these fields.

The Institute expect the impacts of the students experience to include providing opportunities for students to tackle subjects in math and science outside of the school curriculum by offering a different style and pace of learning, to provide peer environment that reflects their own diversity and culture, allowing them to build a supportive cohort, to allow students to develop academic skills over time, as well as leadership skills and to allow the student a chance to apply the skills learned, and to have a real-life grounding in how math, science, and technology can be used in jobs and academic careers.

Students who have confidence in their academic and leadership skills are more likely to pursue their interests in higher education and beyond. A more diversified population in fields that are traditionally dominated by white males (i.e., math, science and technology) will lead to greater creativity, productivity and a multiple-perspectives approach to the products, research and information that emerge.

We extend a sincere welcome to our 2007 MSL students and applaud the Adrienne Arnold, Coordinator and her amazing instructional team.