Summer Science Workshop participants accomplish a mighty research feat. In about two weeks, they form groups and complete, with the help of their TRIP Lab mentors, a mini-project from start to finish, and create a poster for presentation of their research. These poster presentations are judged for clarity of information and scientific merit. This unique experience leaves positive impressions on both the student participants and their mentors and helps them grow personally and professionally.
Each summer, the TRIP Lab offers a two-week Summer Science Workshop, Science of Distracted Driving. Through collaboration with the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham and the UAB Department of Psychology this workshop is offered free of charge for rising high school students. During the Summer Science Workshop, future scientists are exposed to attention, cognition, and developmental psychology in the context of driving, and use scientific inquiry to address the real-world problem of inattention while driving.
Workshop participants are given the opportunity to engage in all aspects of the research process, including participating in validated experimental protocols developed for previous studies. Students participate in the AAA Teen Defensive Driving Course, as well as experience hands-on laboratory work, instructor-developed demonstrations, visit and interact with the TRIP Lab, and hear guest lectures from transportation safety experts from such organizations as AAA of Alabama, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, Regional Planning of Commission of Greater Birmingham, Jefferson County Sheriff Department, Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.
During the two-week Summer Science Workshop, students design, develop, and disseminated a small research study. As a culmination of the workshop and a demonstration of everything they learn, workshop participants present their research at a poster exposition held at the UAB TRIP Lab. Research posters are evaluated and judged by UAB faculty and staff. Parents, family and friends, UAB Faculty and staff, and all guest lecturers are invited to this exposition offering parents and students an opportunity to network, and faculty an opportunity to recruit bright students to their university and/or laboratory.
Online applications for the Summer Science Workshop are available late winter/early spring. Please contact the TRIP Lab if you have questions or are interested in participating in the next Summer Science Workshop! It is an amazing experience — You don’t want to miss the opportunity!