BLAST is a free, immersive three-day residential program offering hands-on STEM experiences and college life exposure at multiple Virginia universities, specifically targeting students with limited prior STEM experience.
The Virginia Space Grant Consortium - BLAST (Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology) is a free, three-day residential summer program designed for rising 9th and 10th-grade students in Virginia. The program aims to ignite curiosity and foster interest in STEM fields, particularly for students who have a passion for STEM but limited prior exposure. Participants stay in college dormitories and engage in dynamic, hands-on STEM activities and demonstrations led by university faculty and staff. Activities vary by university but can include topics such as synthetic biology (DNA extraction), optics (analyzing light with spectrometers), microcontrollers, and soldering. The program provides an immersive college campus experience, exposing students to various STEM disciplines and potential career paths. It also offers opportunities to interact with undergraduate and graduate STEM students, gaining insights into university life and STEM majors. The ultimate goal is to increase the number of high school graduates who pursue STEM careers by providing enriching and accessible STEM experiences.
A typical day involves breakfast, followed by intensive three-hour lecture-lab experiences and hands-on STEM activities led by university faculty. Evenings include fun-filled STEM-related events, dinner, and collaborative work sessions, with students returning to dorms under staff supervision.
This program is best for rising 9th and 10th-grade Virginia students with at least a C+/B- average and a desire to explore STEM opportunities, especially those with little to no prior STEM experience.
Multiple Locations (Virginia Tech: July 21st – July 24th, 2026)
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