The Ohio Supercomputer Center's (OSC) week-long Youth STEM Institute (YSI) offers hands-on experiences with computers, math, science, and engineering to middle school students in Ohio. YSI promotes interest in these subjects by allowing youth to work on practical, interesting scientific problems using the latest computer technology.
YSI was established by Steven Gordon as the Young Women's Summer Institute (YWSI). Gordon, who stewarded the program from 2000 to 2018, served in various roles at OSC, including interim co-executive director, deputy director, and senior director of education.
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Who is eligible to apply?
Ohio residents in 6th and 7th grade (in the 2025-2026 school year) and K-12 science and math teachers.
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Program Details
2026 Dates
July 12 - 17, 2026
Applications open January 14 and close on April 1. Accepted students are notified in May.
Application Deadline
Deadline: April 1, 2026
We will begin notifying accepted students in early May 2026.
Contact Information
(614) 292-9248 or si-contact@osc.edu
Cost
$360 per attendee.
This $60-per-day fee covers housing, meals, program tuition, laboratory visits, insurance, chaperones, social activities, and equipment costs. It's worth noting that external funding sources heavily subsidize the program costs, as it costs OSC approximately four times more than what attendees are charged. Essentially, all participants are recipients of program scholarships; therefore, individualized scholarships are unavailable.
Location
Ohio Supercomputer Center
1224 Kinnear Road
Columbus, Ohio 43212
Activities
YSI is designed to offer an enriching educational and recreational experience by combining engaging lectures, interactive tours, and group project work with frequent recreational breaks and exciting evening activities on The Ohio State University's campus.Example Academic Activities
Lectures:
- Introduction to Watersheds
- Water Ecology / Analysis
- Fundamentals of the Water Cycle
- Presentation Skills
- Betty Lise Anderson Engineering Presentation / Activity
Tours:
- Big Darby Creek
- Byrd Polar
- Chadwick Arboretum
Projects
Attendees will participate in projects that require them to analyze data and visualize results. Individual projects introduce fundamental computer skills and provide students with an understanding of various computer applications. During the program, students will become familiar with real-time data and presentation software. Read more about these projects.
Example Recreational Activities
- Swimming
- Movie Night
- Board Game Night
- Scrapbooking
Care, Custody and Control
OSC is committed to providing the best experience possible for youth involved in our summer programs. Staff are expected to hold themselves to the highest standards of conduct when interacting with youth. OSC Summer programs follow Ohio State's Youth Activities and Programs Policy, which establishes requirements that safeguard the well-being of youth.
Daily Routine
Consistent elements of a day at YSI.
| Time | |
|---|---|
| ~7:30 AM | Breakfast at an Ohio State dining hall |
| ~8:30 AM | Campus bus to OSC |
| ~9:00 AM | Group touch point |
| ~Noon | Lunch at OSC |
| ~4:30 PM | Daily survey |
| ~5:30 PM | Campus bus to dorm |
| ~6:00 PM | Dinner at an Ohio State dining hall and various activities |
| ~9:00 PM | Curfew in dorm |
| ~11:00 PM | Lights out |
YSI 2025 Recap Video
