The Alaska Summer Research Academy (ASRA) is a fun two week academic experience offered by the College of Natural Science and Mathematics in cooperation with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and industry partners. ASRA provides an opportunity for students in grades 8-12 to live on the UAF campus and work with university faculty, staff, and industry professionals.

Students choose one module (or course) and are immersed in a single subject for two weeks. The approach is experiential - hands-on and minds-on rather than lecture or worksheets.

Learning happens quickly when a student is deeply engaged in the subject matter. If the topic is interesting and challenging, and the student is allowed to interact and play to discover their own solutions and answers, learning will be deep and rewarding.

SRA emphasizes exploration and creativity as part of the learning process. The few lectures are student centered and discussion based and only long enough to set the stage for activity. Homework is rare, and is only there to enhance a learning experience e.g. reading about marine life in Glacier Bay. There are no grades.

At ASRA group sizes are small, students are motivated, and instructors are experts in content and teaching. This allows content to be tailored to student interest and ability. Students learn with the ceiling removed, and can pursue a topic as deeply as they desire.