The Center for Environmental Molecular Science (CEMS) at Stony Brook University is an Environmental Molecular Science Institute funded by the National Science Foundation. CEMS sponsors scholarships for selected undergraduates to work at Stony Brook in a 10-week summer program of research in environmental science. Students from a variety of undergraduate major fields of study at institutions across the United States experience research first hand under the direction of faculty mentors.

The diversity of scientists in CEMS enables us to offer exciting projects to all student participants. Faculty mentors are active researchers in environmental geochemistry, environmental chemistry, geology, physics, environmental marine sciences, and materials science. Each student has the opportunity to work in our state-of-the art laboratories and facilities, including the National Synchrotron Light Source at nearby Brookhaven National Laboratory. During the ten-week program, students conduct individual result-oriented projects. Their experiences cover most of the essential elements of academic research, including reporting of the results to other scientist.

The student-advisor relationship in the summer research program is modeled after the relationship between graduate students and their advisors in a research university setting. Thus, students are given individual projects and a good deal of independance and responsibility. At the same time, the advisors are always available for consultation and guidance. Students will also benefit from interaction with full-time graduate research students who are working in the same facilities. In the first weeks of the program, the advisors spend time training the students on technique and laboratory safety. During the follwing weeks, the students and advisors have almost daily contact in the laboratories.

When not working in the laboratories, group housing in the Stony Brook residence halls and extracurricular activities provide for an excellent social experience as well. Stony Brook University is not far from beaches and is 1-1/2 hours from New York City by rail. Extracurricular activities usually include visits to the American Museum of Natural History and other New York attractions. Other recreational activities may include exploration of the upper Carmans River by canoe or kayak, camping and hiking for a weekend in the Adirondacks, or visiting the Bronx Zoo.