What is the SSDP?

The Summer Science Discovery Program (SSDP) is a non-profit science enrichment program for at risk students 6 to 12 years old.

SSDP is a collaborative effort between the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and the Museum of Discovery.  The program developed in response to the overwhelming success of current UAMS outreach programs for junior high, high school, and college students. 

In the SSD program, undergraduate college students, medical students, and classroom teachers work with the Museum of Discovery to design exciting lesson plans for two one-week math and science experiences at the Museum of Discovery.   

Each day the participants will meet at their respective summer camps or schools, then will be transported to the Arkansas Museum of Discovery in downtown Little Rock. Sessions will begin at 9:00 am; a qualified member of the museum's staff will give a two-hour science presentation that has been designed specifically for elementary age students. At 11:00 am, the students will break into smaller groups for a one-hour tour of the area of the museum relevant to the science presentation. After the tour at 12:00 pm, the students will have a lunch break. A different restaurant in the River Market will provide lunch each day. During the lunch break, we will discuss as a group the earlier science presentation and participate in team building exercises. After lunch a second two-hour lesson will be conducted, and then at 3:30 pm the participants will depart the museum and return to their respective summer camp or school.

The program will run an entire week. Each day the science presentation will change, but the process will remain the same. A new and exciting topic will be covered each day, with the same schedule.

SSDP is a supplement to other summer programs.

SSDP Application

Online Application

What is the purpose of SSDP?

To promote careers in health sciences to elementary-age children in Arkansas.

To improve academic quality while increasing the quantity of applicants to UAMS and other graduate school programs.

To reach at-risk students during the formative years in order to influence their choice of curriculum in junior and senior high school.



Contact Us

Kim Blann-Anderson
Mail Slot 827
(501) 526-7047 work
(501) 626-9442 mobile
blannkimberlynl@uams.edu