The Earth and Space Research – Summer Institute (ESR-SI) 2025 program wrapped up 4 great weeks in July 2025. This was the 2nd year for ESR-SI but the original program dates back to 2018. Michael Town developed and piloted the program in 2018 as the Lakeside Summer Research Institute (LSRI)
The high school students enrolled in this years program were mentored by Dr. Taryn Black (University of Maryland, ESR Affiliate) and Dr. Michael Town (ESR Research Scientist). Students were exposed to a mixture of state-of-the-art data analysis techniques (Python, Pandas, Xarray, and more), satellite data ( ICESat-2), other ice and climate data products.
To find out more about this program, read the blog post by Taryn Black about her work with the students:
The 2025 iteration of the Earth and Space Research Summer Institute (ESR-SI) ran in June and July of 2025, with a focus on satellite data and the Antarctic Ice Sheet. I had seen students in this program share their creative research several times over the years, but this was my first time being involved in the program. I mentored four students with the support of Dr. Michael Town, a research scientist and Vice President of ESR who started this program as the Lakeside Summer Research Institute at Seattle’s Lakeside School. It was very energizing and fulfilling for me to work with high school students who were enthusiastic about getting a realistic taste of the research process … READ MORE
You can also find more by reading the individual student posts about their experience through the links below:
| Ada C | On a warm July day in Seattle, I wasn’t thinking about the heat outside. Instead, my mind was on the sunlight reflected thousands of miles away off the surface of Antarctica. I was investigating a deceptively simple question: how do seasonal changes in albedo affect surface height changes in ice sheets near Troll Station? … READ MORE |
| Varun C | Before the ESR program, glaciers had never crossed my mind, much less had I imagined I would spend a whole summer studying them. This program showed me just how fascinating they could be and just how many interesting processes they are affected by … READ MORE |
| Alex L | This summer at the Earth Science Research Institute, I dove into the critical work of understanding Antarctica’s changing ice. My project focused on the complex landscape around Troll Research Station … READ MORE |
| Sri S | When you think of Antarctica and the dangers associated with it, people tend to only think of the brutal weather. However, the risks don’t stop there; many of the greatest dangers come from what lies beneath the icy landscape. At places like Troll Station …READ MORE |