Personal motivations for mathematics and science education

¶ … excites you about Math/Science and why would you want to spend a month at Cosmos

Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater." -- Albert Einstein

This quotation of Albert Einstein illustrates what I love about math and science -- although studying math and science can provide human beings with concrete answers and solutions, studying math and science also provokes human beings to ask more searching and seemingly unanswerable questions. The work that science has done to improve human life is clear and demonstrable, but the process of understanding the world is never done.

Both the theoretical and the practical applications of math and science have always fascinated me. Cosmos would give me a chance to explore how engineering is being used to solve problems of everyday life, but also a greater understanding of the physical principles that guide the discipline.

Although I have enjoyed all of my coursework at my high school, the times when I have felt freest to truly let my interest take free reign is when I am doing labs, working on my own on my computer at home, or doing science fair projects. At Cosmos, I would be able to propose my own hypothetical scientific questions and to use my abilities to explore and research new answers, rather than simply be a receptor of knowledge. I would also get a better understanding of what life is like for scientists, researchers, and engineers, by receiving the guidance of professionals in shaping my final project.