National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) | High School STEM Programs

At the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) take part in exciting hands-on workshops and simulations as your explore a future in one of today's most intriguing STEM professions. Select from 13 outstanding STEM summer programs described below.

Explore our website to see details on all of our STEM Programs.

Aerospace

Program Locations at American University and Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. Design the next generation of aircraft and spacecraft at the NSLC on Aerospacee.

Biotechnology 

Program Locations at American University, Washington, D.C.;  Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; and, University of California at Berkeley in San Francisco, CA.

A career in biotechnology can take you to university laboratories, small technology start-ups or some of the biggest pharmaceutical or energy companies in the world. 

Cybersecurity 

Programs at American University, Washington, D.C.

Protect and defend critical networks and systems at the NSLC on Cybersecurity. Learn how experts in the field monitor, mitigate, and prevent online threats. You will explore the world of cybersecurity from the perspectives of government, business, and individual consumers.

Data Science

Program at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA.

At the National Student Leadership Conference on Data Science, students will develop a foundational knowledge of data science, exploring probability theory, data cleaning and transformation techniques, algorithms, and data visualization. Students will learn new skills, including basic coding in Python and using Tableau for data visualization.

Engineering

Programs at American University, Washington D.C.; Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA; Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Rice University, Houston, TX; University of California Berkeley, San Francisco, CA.

At the NSLC on Engineering summer program for high school students, you’ll explore a variety of engineering fields including mechanical, civil, electrical, and biomedical engineering. Professors and professional engineers will tell you about exciting new research endeavors and their latest projects.

Engineering Intensive 

Program at University of California Berkeley, San Francisco, CA.

You’ll explore various fields in engineering and decide if engineering is the career for you! During this 18-day program, you will learn from top engineering experts and meet with successful researchers and professors. Experience Engineering Design Challenges, Robotics Simulation, and Meet Engineering Professionals with visits to top companies, labs and research institutions. 

Environmental Science & Sustainability 

at University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, and at Yale University, New Haven, CT.

Work on Conservation Project in a neighboring forest and use it as your outdoor laboratory as you design and implement a conservation project focused on local flora and fauna with an emphasis on natural resource management. You will be working with marine biologists and ecologists, bring samples of local soils and water to the lab and experiment to determine basic composition, acidity, pH, pollution levels, and nutrient content. Experience Green Building using LEED guidelines,  as you work with your peers to evaluate local buildings and design a sustainable building project of your own.

Forensic Science 

Program at American University, Washington, D.C.

Collect evidence and solve a crime. High school students unravel a mystery as they conduct an investigation and build a body of evidence. Interact with experts in medicine, law enforcement and the legal profession who will give you an insider’s view into the life of a professional forensic scientist.

Marine Biology

Programs at University of Miami, Miami FL and University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI.

At the NSLC on Marine Biology, you will learn about the relations between humans and our marine ecosystems and take an active role in developing solutions to the issues facing marine biologists today. While at the NSLC you will visit labs and national parks as you meet with and learn from professionals and researchers in a variety of fields including marine mammals, marine biotechnology, aquaculture, environmental biology and toxicology. You and your peers will learn about the fields that come together to make marine biology and take a deep dive into the career path open to you! 

Medicine & Health Care 

Programs at American University, Washington, D.C.; Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Rice University, Houston, TX, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO; University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; University of Miami, Miami, FL, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Vanderbilt University, and Nashville, TN.

Train for your future career as a medical professional. While at the NSLC, you will perform clinical rounds, learn medical examination and surgical techniques, and participate in diagnosis and treatment while solving the mystery of a fatal outbreak sweeping the nation. You and your team will grapple with controversial medical issues, learn about today’s health care challenges and explore advanced scientific research in areas such as cancer and HIV/AIDS.

Nursing

Summer Program at American University, Washington, D.C. and Yale University, New Haven, CT.

Focus on patient care and learn how to become a professional nurse at the NSLC on Nursing. You will develop the skills necessary to provide high quality patient?centered health care, gain insight into the careers available within nursing, and gain hands-on-experience with the kinds of challenges nurses face daily. You and your peers will spend time in state-of-the-art simulation labs, learning the techniques nurses use with their patients.

Psychology & Neuroscience 

Summer Programs at American University, Washington, D.C., Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, and Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.

At the NSLC on Psychology & Neuroscience, you will delve into the science of the mind as you explore child development and personality types and learn to motivate others. Through clinical psychology simulations and hands-on neurology workshops, you will explore the relationships between the brain and human behavior.

Veterinarian Medicine

At UPenn School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.

Train to be a veterinarian at the NSLC on Veterinary Medicine. Do you have a special passion for animals or pet care? Do the fields of biology, zoology, and medicine pique your interest? At the NSLC on Veterinary Medicine, you will get to step into the veterinary world and learn animal handling techniques, receive lectures on a variety of specialties in veterinary medicine, and receive training for important clinical skills.