Weekend Academy at Vanderbilt University (WAVU)
This exciting overnight program is designed for current 7th through 10th grade students who would like to spend a weekend at Vanderbilt University learning from Vanderbilt faculty, exploring new ideas, and making new friends.
Spring 2008 WAVU -- March 1-2, 2008
Spring 2008 Application (finanical aid application included)
| Crops that Changed the World (7th and 8th grade) By the time your dinner reaches your plate, it has probably been on a journey of hundreds, or even thousands of miles. Along the way, your food has a profound effect on the people, cultures, and economies it encounters. This interdisciplinary course examines the social, biological, and economic links between crops, cultures, and food production technologies. Topics will range from plant domestication and the "agricultural revolution" to the lost crops of the Incas, and from the globalization of industrial agriculture to "energy crops" and sustainable agriculture. Come hungry to learn about sociology, anthropology, economics, biology, and more. |
| The Ocean and the Global Environment (7th and 8th grade) Ocean covers approximately three-fourths of the earth's surface, yet it is arguably the least understood of our natural resources. The ocean impacts our food supply, our weather patterns, and, indeed, our very ability to inhabit the Earth. This course will introduce you to the vital role it plays in our lives -- even here in Nashville, hundreds of miles from the coast. This is an exciting time for ocean science, as new technologies are providing ever more information about the vast and largely unexplored ocean environment. Questions we will examine during the weekend include: How does the ocean make Earth habitable? How is the ocean a major influence on climate? What sorts of strange and bizarre animals and plants live in the ocean -- and why? Join us for an adventure 20,000 leagues under the sea; no submarine required. |
| Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World (9th and 10th Grade) Blockbuster films, sporting events with tens of thousands of spectators, sports and media stars with fan clubs and ardent admirers, and riots begun by enraged fans -- it may sound like the modern world, but all of these phenomena have their origins in Greek and Roman antiquity. This seminar traces the forms of ancient spectacle in theater and sport and viewer reactions to them. You will gain a deeper understanding of both the ancient and modern culture of spectacle through reading selections from ancient tragedies and comedies, examining the archaeological records of ancient theaters and race tracks, and investigating the links between ancient sports such as chariot races and modern sports like NASCAR. |
| Hands-on Robotics (9th and 10th grade) From Star Trek's Commander Data to Futurama's Bender, robots have shaped our conception of technology in the future. But what is the state of robotic technology today? In this course you will learn about robotics and its component fields of mechanical and electrical engineering by designing and building your own robots. We will also touch on computer programming as we examine the conception of the behavior-based robot. Hands-on experiments with our robotic creations will round out our understanding of robotic technology. |
Do you WAVU?
Weekend Academy at Vanderbilt University is a residential academic program for gifted 7th to 10th grade students. Students engage in an intensive two-day course of study designed and taught by Vanderbilt University personnel. WAVU offers fast-paced, rigorous courses on topics not usually included in school, and is a great opportunity for students to come together to study with a group of talented peers and exceptional teachers on Vanderbilt's campus.
Schedule
Students check in at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning and depart campus after the parent meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
Accommodations
Students spend the night at the historic Scarritt-Bennett Center adjacent to Vanderbilt's campus.
WAVU residential advisors supervise students when they are not in class.
Qualifications
Students in 7th to 10th grade who have scored at the 95th percentile or greater on either the verbal or quantitave reasoning sections of an academic achievement test such as the TCAP or ERB. Students who have been invited to participate in the Duke Talent Search are also qualified to enroll.
Tuition
$400 tuition includes food, housing, academic course, and all course materials.
Financial aid is available for students with demonstrated need. Total financial aid awards are limited, however, and applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Contact Us
To learn more about WAVU contact Jay Watson (615) 322-8261 or by e-mail.
