Computer Science Residential: San Francisco 2023

In February 2023, 30 students and four members of staff from SSV travelled to the Golden City, otherwise known as San Francisco, to explore the spiritual home of Computer Science. The trip was designed to inspire students and give them firsthand experience of where the subject can take them in the future. Below you will find a detailed account from one of our students, Martin, about this trip.

Day 1:

After flying for 11 hours we arrived at the Randall Museum, located near the peak of one of San Francisco’s many hills. It was an amazing introduction to the city we would be calling home for the next week. We explored the physical geography of the bay, the wildlife that can be found in the local area and how the city has developed over time. By the time dinner came, we were all thoroughly exhausted. It had been over 24 hours since we woke up!

Bubba Gump Shrimp was our first taste of American food, and it did not disappoint (unlike the airline food!).

Day 2:

After some well-deserved sleep, we woke up early for breakfast and a new day. On the second day we took our first coach ride into Silicon Valley.

The first stop was the Tech Interactive Centre, an impressive museum about technology and our world. We took part in a workshop where we built roller coasters for marbles and practised our physics! We then watched a huge IMAX movie about Everest, in a high-tech theatre with some seriously impressive sound! After that and a short lunch we were off to Intel, to learn about the history and operation of its computing business. At Intel we explored how the Intel processor has developed, the impact the company and its founders had on Silicon Valley and how microprocessors are manufactured now. The last stop was the Googleplex and Google store, where some students had a ride on the “GBikes”. Dinner was at Hard Rock Café, and we had a gander around Pier 39, its Californian Sealions and its lively shops.

Day 3:

The next morning we jumped on the ferry and headed over to the imposing rock sticking out of the middle of the bay, Alcatraz Island! We followed the very well-made audio tour through the grim cell blocks and heard the stories of the prisoners that inhabited them – certainly one of the most memorable places that we visited. We then hopped on a cable car and, hanging on to the side like true San Franciscans, rode up and down the hills of the Golden City. Better than any roller coaster ride I have ever had!

After a brief lunch at the Ferry Building, we explored the rainforest, the one in the California Academy of Sciences, that is! An amazing museum filled to the brim with all kinds of facts about the world around us. The last stop before dinner was Twin Peaks, with a panoramic view that I won’t forget. We ended the day at In-N-Out Burger, a classic American burger joint. It was my first American fast food, and it was really good!

Day 4:

On the fourth day we went to the Chabot Space & Science Centre across the bay in Oakland.

Chabot was amazing! It had telescopes, computer simulations, mock-up models, real spacecraft, real spacesuits, and basically all the must-sees of space. After a brief physics refresher talk on light, and an interesting planetarium film on ancient astronomy (as well as spending any money I had left), we were on the road again.

This time we were heading to the base of the Golden Gate Bridge (it is so much bigger in person!) to explore the ‘Pride of the Pacific’, otherwise known as Fort Point. We learned about the history of the troops stationed there, the lighthouse and some history of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. Then we had a walk over the Golden Gate Bridge and back. Back at the hostel, we had lovely pizza from Hole-in-the-Wall and competed in an expertly made quiz to finish off the day.

Day 5:

On the last full day we travelled back into Silicon Valley itself starting with a visit to the Computer History Museum. This gave an amazing glimpse into the past of computing as well as looking at emerging trends in the field. There was a fully automated self-driving car, a whole section of game consoles from history and, my highlight: a working IBM machine – a room-sized behemoth of a computer (that still wouldn’t be able run your favourite videogame, though!). After that we explored some of the key sights in Silicon Valley, visiting the Googleplex and Apple HQ, and our final stop for the day, Walmart! Just kidding, we also went to Stanford University afterwards. Our final dinner was at Applebee’s, where we were treated to an awards ceremony, commemorating the best moments of the trip.

Day 6:

On the very last day we gathered our things, packed our bags and started the long journey back to the Netherlands. This trip was great, and I will remember the fun we had in San Francisco for a long time! I would like to thank Mrs Nethercote and all the other teachers that helped for organising this one-of-a-kind trip! ■