What’s Happening Today!

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The Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies (CICOES) REU is now accepting applicants for Summer 2026. Over 9 weeks, undergraduates will work with NOAA and University of Washington scientists on projects in oceanography, atmospheric science, fisheries, and climate research. Participants receive a stipend, housing, and real-world research experience.

Meanwhile, Argonne National Laboratory is supercharging battery innovation with two powerhouse tools: the upgraded Advanced Photon Source (APS) and the Aurora exascale supercomputer. The APS can now image battery materials in real time at nanometer resolution, while Aurora processes petabytes of data using AI-driven analysis.

Upcoming Opportunities

🌊 Explore Climate, Oceans, and Ecosystems with CICOES REU

The NSF-funded Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies (CICOES) offers a 9-week summer research program based at the University of Washington and NOAA facilities in Seattle. Students will join projects spanning climate change, ocean acidification, fisheries, and tsunami forecasting, gaining experience through lab work, computational analysis, and field research. The program includes seminars, outreach, and a final symposium where interns present posters and research videos.

📅 Program Details

• Application Deadline: Mid-January 2026

• Program Dates: Late June – Late August 2026 (9 weeks)

• Location: University of Washington + NOAA Seattle + field sites

• Stipend: $650/week ($5,850 total)

• Register Here: [Website]

✅ Eligibility

• U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident

• Undergraduate sophomore, junior, or senior (must return to undergrad in fall)

• At least 18 years old

• Priority for students with limited access to research opportunities

⚠️ Bonus Opportunities You Should Know

• 🧪 NSF REU Summer Research Programs: List of funded undergrad research programs. (Search here)

• 🎓 Zintellect: List of scholarships, research fellowships, and internship opportunities funded by the U.S. government or private sector. (Search here)

• 💰 NASA OSTEM Internships: List of NASA Internships for high school and undergraduate STEM students. (More info)

• 🪖 Department of Defense (DoD) SMART Scholarship: $30,000-$46,000 scholarship awarded to top STEM students. (Link)

🌍 International Opportunities

• 🧲 Pathways to Science: List of upcoming internships, scholarships, and research programs hosted by any country [open to international students]. (Search here)

• 🔬 Amgen Scholars Program: Prestigious summer research program for undergraduate students in the U.S., Europe, or Asia. (More info)

• ⚛️ European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN): Search for any upcoming internships related to chemistry, physics, engineering, or data science! (Link here)

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Scientist’s Scroll

🔋 Argonne Supercharges Battery Discovery with Aurora & APS

At Argonne National Laboratory, two powerhouse tools are joining forces to transform battery research: the upgraded Advanced Photon Source (APS) and the Aurora exascale supercomputer. Together, they give scientists the ability to peer deep inside working batteries with unprecedented clarity while crunching massive datasets in real time.

The APS now delivers X-ray beams up to 500 times brighter than before, allowing researchers to watch batteries charge and discharge in fine detail, down to nanoscale defects. Meanwhile, Aurora’s 60,000 GPUs and AI capabilities enable rapid analysis of the petabytes of data generated, turning complex X-ray images into insights about electron motion, material defects, and structural changes.

This synergy opens doors to faster discovery of safer, longer-lasting, and more sustainable battery materials. Argonne scientists envision a future where autonomous labs, AI, and advanced imaging work in tandem to design next-generation energy storage at record speed.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

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Tip of the Day

📚 Prereqs are Gateways, Not Roadblocks

Classes with prerequisites aren’t meant to hold you back—they’re there to make sure you have the foundation to succeed:

• Respect the Sequence: Prereqs build the scaffolding for advanced topics. Skipping them often means struggling later.

• Check Equivalencies: Sometimes work experience, AP credits, or placement tests can substitute.

• Review Beforehand: If it’s been a while since you took the prereq, brush up with notes or online resources so you’re ready to hit the ground running.

• Talk to Instructors: If you’re unsure whether you’re prepared, ask the professor—they’ll often suggest resources or even allow exceptions.

• Plan Ahead: Map your course sequence early so prerequisites don’t bottleneck your progress toward graduation.

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Today’s Theme: What’s Happening Wednesday

This Week in Science: Building Safer Structures

🏗️ NIST Reinvents Precast Concrete Connections for Resilient Buildings

Engineers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed five new connection designs to make precast concrete structures stronger and more resistant to collapse. Precast concrete is efficient, but its joints are often the weakest points.

The new designs use “structural fuses” and other clever engineering features to ensure that, under stress from earthquakes, floods, or explosions, steel connectors deform predictably instead of causing brittle concrete failures. Full-scale tests confirmed that these connections can prevent “disproportionate collapse,” where the loss of one column spreads into catastrophic failure.

By working with the Precast Concrete Institute, NIST ensured the connectors can be built in existing factories and easily assembled in the field. This innovation could help future buildings withstand sudden damage, giving occupants more time to evacuate and saving lives.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

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