Summer occupations

6| FEATURES

Students engage in enriching summer experiences

Genevieve Frucht '24 News Editor (she/her)

Many students use summer as an opportunity to follow unique passions and discover new experiences. Some choose to go to camp, others go on vacation and some even conduct research. Here are three ways Staples students spent their summer this year.

Rebecca Schussheim ’23

Very Large Array: The Very Large Array near Socorro, New Mexico is the world’s largest radio telescope, consistng of 27 dish antennas.

Rebecca Schussheim ’23 conducted research in astrophysics at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Along with two collaborators, Schussheim calculated the predicted orbit of the nearEarth asteroid 1993 MO. “While I have always been fascinated by the broader workings of our natural world,” Schussheim said, “it was incredible to apply my knowledge of physics, vector calculus and astronomy to a tangible and observable problem with very real implications.” Schussheim heard from several guest speakers and she also was able to eat lunch with the head of NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination O ce and one of the heads of the US Space Force. “[ e program] was no doubt challenging, yet it was also incredibly rewarding to

Summer Science Program: Schussheim (middle) atended the rigorous Summer Science Program (SSP), where she researched astrophysics.

work alongside 35 simultaneously brilliant and wonderful rising seniors from around the world,” Schussheim said. “I will de nitely stay in touch with everyone I met.”

Coastal Cool-Off : Jordy Greenspan ’24 water hikes in Ein Gedi, Israel.

Photos contributed by Jordy Greenspan ’24

Eliat Excursion Jordy Greenspan ’24 snorkels in the Red Sea in Eilat, Israel.

Jordy Greenspan ’24

Since elementary school, Jordy Greenspan ’24 has spent her summers at a sleep away camp, but this year she traveled to Israel for ve weeks. She traveled through the country, visiting cities such as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Tiberius and Safed. Visiting all of these cities opened her up to so many places that are in uential to Jewish culture. “I loved spending time with my camp friends and connecting with my Judaism,” Greenspan said. Not only did she visit cities, but Greenspan also spent three days camping in the Negev desert, as well as participated in a 24-hour Israeli army day simulation. “Zionism connects me to my ancestors,” Greenspan said, “and [Israel is] now such a special place to me.”

PJ Loranger ’24

PJ Loranger ’24 spent part of his summer at the University of Iowa where he conducted research with a member of the university’s High Energy Physics Lab. Scientists need special detectors to capture the outcome of rocks being smashed together in order to nd out what’s inside. at is where Loranger came into play. “ ere’s a bunch of issues with the way we currently build those detectors,” Loranger said, “so my job was to write a program that simulates a new type of detector design so we could see if we want to build it and use it at CERN [European Organization for Nuclear Research].” Unlike classes in school, Loranger was able to use his knowledge in different areas of math and science to research something that intrigues him; he also was able to collaborate with others who shared his interests. “I really enjoyed the program, and I got to meet a whole host of amazing people,” Loranger said. “I particularly enjoyed the intensity and the ability to apply the stu I’ve been working on at school to real world problems, even though I was running on no sleep and mostly co ee for the majority of the program.”

Photo contributed by PJ Loranger ’24

Simulation Results: PJ Loranger ’24 ultmately concluded that a change in the compositon of the partcle collider would address some of the most major challenges that come with it.