New Horizons Governor's School for Science and Technology

New Horizons Governor's School for Science and Technology
Location
Hampton, Virginia, United States
Information
Type	Magnet school
Established	1985

The New Horizons Governor's School for Science and Technology (NHGS) is a magnet school located in Hampton, Virginia and directed by Vikki Whismer. Students of this school are chosen from the Gloucester, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg-James City, and York County School Divisions.^{[1] [2]}

Students attend the Governor's School during their Junior and Senior years. They take mathematics and science courses at the Governor's School in the morning or afternoon, depending on school division, and attend their home high schools for the remainder of their classes. Apart from its math and science courses, the Governor's School also offers Junior Research and Senior Mentorship classes. These classes are designed to expose students to areas they may not have had in their regular schools. Junior Research introduces NHGS juniors to research and the scientific process, skills that are invaluable later on in college environments. Senior Mentorship provides NHGS seniors with work experience in a specific field of science or technology.^[3]

Financial support for the school is provided by the participating school divisions and the Gifted Programs Office of the Virginia Department of Education.

Strand System

The New Horizons Governor's School for Science and Technology implements a strand system which allows students to select their preferred field of study when enrolling. Each strand is unique and involves different courses specific to the three fields of study.

Engineering Strand

The Engineering Strand involves an intense, rigorous study of fundamental principles of engineering and calculus-based physics. Students develop a passion for calculus and physics during their junior year. Building a robot, constructing a fuel cell, and then proceeding to on-line technology that studies air-bag deployment principles in automobiles are just a few of the engineering activities students experience in the course. The ideas of Maxwell and Hawking are studies during the senior year. Understanding the physics behind such inventions as the TV, computers, and magnetic resonance imaging technology round out the senior year.

Biological Science Strand

The Biological Science Strand provides insights into organic and inorganic chemistry in conjunction with cell and molecular biology by employing advanced technologies utilized in medicine, forensic science, and research labs. An advanced level understanding of biology and chemistry sets the stage for senior students to argue controversial topics concerning the environment. Analyze water quality and biodiversity during monthly sampling of a nearby pond. Extensive field work and laboratory analysis generates a nine-month database for a more comprehensive understanding of our local environment.

Scientific Programming Strand

The Scientific Programming Strand combines the study of structured and object-oriented programming with applications in practical, non-calculus based, physics scenarios. The best of two worlds! Develop insight into applying computer programming techniques to real world situations. Physics topics include classical mechanics, fluid dynamics and thermodynamics. Using “calling functions” to study the speed of sound in objects and analyzing operator overloading are just a few of the unique approaches to master C/C++ in a Unix environment while learning physics! The second year course will include features of microprocessors and assembly language programming.

Additional Classes

Junior Research Methodology and Ethics

The junior year research experience involves various aspects of research methodology, ethics and statistics, critical thinking skills, and scientific writing and communication skills. The class centers around a research project that each student is required to submit to the Tidewater Science Fair. This course is taught by Dr. Julian Pittman of the College of William and Mary.

Senior Mentorship

The senior year mentorship allows students to participate in a real-life work experience with professionals from a scientific area of the students' choosing. Final projects are presented to the local scientific and professional community as a culminating experience in May. The opportunity to work with a professional in research is an invaluable experience toward career pursuits.

External links

• New Horizons Governor's School for Science and Technology

References

1. ^ http://www.nhgs.tec.va.us/governorsschool/contactus.php
2. ^ http://www.nhgs.tec.va.us/governorsschool/admissions.php
3. ^ http://www.nhgs.tec.va.us/governorsschool/programstrands.php