Discover

Share

Download

Features

/

Article

Physicists teach minority students

MAR 01, 1970

Stanford’s summer program for high‐school students of Mexican descent shows them what modern science is up to and encourages some to go to college

DOI: 10.1063/1.3022020

Barbara Goss Levi

A MEXICAN—AMERICAN high‐school student in southern California is a member of a minority group with no academic tradition. He is likely to drop out of school through lack of personal and parental interest, and even if he does finish high school he will probably not go to college. Some physics and mechanical‐engineering faculty members at Stanford University are doing what they can to persuade these students to continue their education. At a four‐week program, held each summer at Stanford, Mexican–American students attend lectures, do some laboratory work, and socialize with staff members; thus they get a taste of college life and a feeling for modem science that is not available to them elsewhere. The budget is low, the results are mixed, yet the idea is spreading to other campuses in the US.

This article is only available in PDF format

More about the authors

Barbara Goss Levi, Physics Today.

© 1970 American Institute of Physics

Physics Today is looking for a Senior Editor. Apply Now.

Related content

Features

/

Article

A brief guide to science outreach

Figuring out how to communicate with the public can be overwhelming. Here’s some advice for getting started.

December 16, 2025 04:38 PM

Features

/

Article

The urgent need for research governance of solar geoengineering

Amid growing investment in planetary-scale climate intervention strategies that alter sunlight reflection, global communities deserve inclusive and accountable oversight of research.

December 15, 2025 12:05 PM

Features

/

Article

Superconducting quantum circuits: At the heart of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics

Although motivated by the fundamental exploration of the weirdness of the quantum world, the prizewinning experiments have led to a promising branch of quantum computing technology.

November 25, 2025 03:04 PM

Features

/

Article

Solid-state batteries: Hype, hopes, and hurdles

As conventional lithium-ion battery technology approaches its theoretical limits, researchers are studying alternative architectures with solid electrolytes.

November 10, 2025 10:22 AM

This Content Appeared In

Volume 23, Number 3

Get PT in your inbox

PT The Week in Physics

A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.

One email per week

PT New Issue Alert

Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.

One email per month

PT Webinars & White Papers

The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.

1 to 2 emails per week