SMaRT is a new National Science Foundation supported two-week summer program at Texas A&M University. It is intended to facilitate interest in mathematics of advanced high school students. High school students of age 14-18, who are US citizens or permanent residents, are eligible to apply.



The camp will provide an intensive learning environment in mathematics, where high school students will learn not only useful mathematical facts, but also how to approach mathematical problems, prove mathematical statements, and write the results.



Eligibility

High school students of age 14 through 18 are eligible. US citizenship or permanent residency is required.



Capacity

The camp is small. In 2009, it had 20 students. In 2010, up to 20 new students will be admitted, as well as a smaller group of returning students. Some of the returing students will be admitted as junior counselors. Undergraduate counselors will be assigned to each group of five students.



Topics

The main topics to be considered for the new class will revolve, as in the previous year, around number theory, combinatorics, and algebra. Some important applications will also be addressed, e.g. coding and logical circuits. A more advanced topic will be offered to the returning students. Each morning, except Sunday, a lecture will be given for the new class, which will introduce students to a variety of interrelated topics of number theory, algebra, combinatorics, and their applications. At a later time, a lecture will be given for the class of returning students. The lectures will only provide introductions and pointers, while most of technical work will be done by students, under counselors' guidance, when solving the daily sets of problems. A problem session will address students' questions and provide additional pointers when needed. Group meetings, guided by counselors and junior counselors will be held in each student group during the day and in the evening. Guest lectures by the TAMU faculty will be given on some afternoons. These lectures will be of expository nature and will address a variety of topics from mathematics and its applications.