Skip to Main Content
Road Scholar logo
Pennsylvania

A Week With the Scientists at Penn State University

Program No. 14314RJ
Discover the science behind searching for planets, weather forecasting and materials used for energy through captivating discussions and exciting excursions with Penn State experts.
WishlistShare
Start
Science & Technology
Length
6 days
Rating (4.92)
Activity Level
Starts at
1,549

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
13 meals ( 5B, 4L, 4D )
17 expert-led lectures
1 expert-led field trip
4 hands-on experiences
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Expand All
Activity Note
Inn check in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 4:30-6:00 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your name-tag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, and other important information. If your arrival is delayed, please ask for your packet when you check in.
Dinner:
In the hotel dining room with the professors. Choose what you like from the dinner buffet with coffee, tea, and water; other beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Instructors will lead lessons and field trips, each with their own style and areas of expertise. Transportation will be provided for those who prefer not to walk. For lunches, participants will receive prepaid debit cards to choose and buy lunch (included in the program cost) from an extensive selection at the Hetzel Union Building. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Please be aware that program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We’ll wrap up our evening as our week's presenters give an introduction to "What is materials science & engineering and why is it interesting?" Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the full day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a van necessitating 2 steps, 5 minute drive to campus. Day spent at Millenium Science Complex.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room, choose what you like from the breakfast buffet.
Morning:
We’ll set off for our first day to the beautiful Penn State campus at the Millennium Science Complex. The day will focus on how we make semiconductor materials for electronic devices and how we know what we made. In addition to lectures, we will view real-time electron microscopy images, which lets us see materials at the atomic scale. Up first, we’ll dive into the world of material sciences. We will get started with a lecture on imaging materials atom by atom. Next, we will have our first demonstration: scanning electron microscopy.
Lunch:
At the Hetzel Union Biulding (HUB), participants will be given prepaid debit cards with which to buy lunch included in the program cost. Among many other choices, the most popular option is the Soup & Garden, which offers choices from a diverse salad and hot main dish bar.
Afternoon:
After returning to the Millennium Science Complex, we'll continue with demonstrations of looking at atoms with electron microscopy. This will be followed by two lectures: "Making materials one atom at a time" and "The story of the blue light emitting diode". Our lectures will be followed by optional office hours. You are welcome to stay and ask your instructors follow-up questions.
Dinner:
Hotel buffet.
Evening:
After dinner, we will return to campus to get a private tour of the university's Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum led by the museum's docent.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a van necessitating 2 steps, 5 minute drive to campus. Day spent at Millenium Science Complex.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet.
Morning:
At the Millenium Science Complex, our morning will focus on how materials interact with light (why do some reflect light and some transmit light? Why are some materials certain colors?). We will also hear a lecture on Practical electron microscopy.
Lunch:
At the Hertzel Union Building (HUB).
Afternoon:
With our instructors, the afternoon will focus on materials for next-generation electronics, discussing how we can make our electronics more efficient and consume less power. This will include lectures about silicon carbide for next generation electronics, new ferroelectric materials, and how to make contact to difficult materials. Our lectures will be followed by optional office hours. You are welcome to stay and ask your instructors follow-up questions.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. You may wish to visit other attractions on campus and in town on your own or just relax at the hotel.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a van necessitating 2 steps, 5 minute drive to campus. Day spent at Steidle building on campus.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet.
Morning:
Strap in for today's lectures on computation and artificial intelligence to design new materials, as well as how we make environmentally-friendly glass and metals. Our morning lectures will cover electrochemistry for sustainable ironmaking & metals recovery, and "The Nanoworld: The Role of Computational Materials Science".
Lunch:
At the Hertzel Union Building (HUB).
Afternoon:
We have a fascinating afternoon with lectures on designing materials with artificial intelligence as well as environmentally friendly glass and metals. Our afternoon with end with our instructors leading a demonstration activity. Our lectures will be followed by optional office hours. You are welcome to stay and ask your instructors follow-up questions.
Dinner:
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a van necessitating 2 steps, 5 minute drive to campus. Day spent at Steidle building on campus.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet.
Morning:
At the Steidle Building, today will focus on polymers and plastics for applications in biomedical devices and solar cells. We will also discuss how to make plastics more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Our morning session will include lectures on hydrogels for biomedical applications and sustainable polymers
Lunch:
At the Hertzel Union Building (HUB).
Afternoon:
We will attend a lecture on organic & perovskite solar cells and learn about polymer science. Our afternoon with end with our instructors leading a demonstration activity. Our lectures will be followed by optional office hours. You are welcome to stay and ask your instructors follow-up questions.
Dinner:
Hotel buffet.
Evening:
At leisure, or spend time with your fellow Road Scholars, reflecting on the knowledge you’ve gained over the course of the program!
Activity Note
Hotel check out 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
For our final meal of the program together, our professors from week will join us for the breakfast buffet.
Morning:
This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy all your Road Scholar learning adventures and we look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
Please select a day to update the map
Map details are not available for this location.
Please Note: This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.
Jun 15, 2025 - Jun 20, 2025
Jun 15, 2025 - Jun 20, 2025
Jun 15 - Jun 20, 2025 Itinerary Differences: Material Sciences: semiconductors, polymers, glasses, and materials for energy.