Science-Oriented Youth 
A unique model for science learning in Israel


INTRODUCTION
For over thirty years, Israeli research and higher learning institutions have opened their gates 
to school age students interested in science. The awareness that the teenagers of today are 
tomorrow’s scientists motivated the establishment of Science-Oriented Youth divisions in all 
the universities and in some research institutes. These activities agree with the 
recommendations of "Machar 98", the Higher Committee for the Scientific-Technological 
Education in Israel, to promote science literacy. The extracurricular activities provided by the 
programs for science-oriented youth add what  schools cannot offer. These programs enhance 
learners’ curiosity, contribute to their research skills and understanding of scientific research 
processes, and enrich their  knowledge.
There is no parallel elsewhere in the world to this network in which Institutions for Research 
and Higher Learning, in collaboration with a government agency (the Ministry of Education, 
Culture and Sports), actively participate in teaching sciences, research methods and logic to 
young students interested in science. Thus, researchers and science graduate students are 
spearheading extracurricular educational activities with youth in Israel. 
 
THE GOALS of the program are:
	To enable science oriented youth to meet researchers.
	To provide scientific enrichment beyond the school curriculum for .able and  highly 
motivated learners.
	To impart scientific culture to young students.

The three components that distinguish the Science-Oriented Youth activities are: their 
youthful participants, the instruction by scientists  and  the research infrastructure of the 
institutes.

The  youth  who attend the scientific programs are only motivated by curiosity and 
interest, because the programs are not accredited either by the school system or the 
universities. This is unique and contrasts with the competitive and achievement-oriented 
atmosphere elsewhere in the society. 
Today, teenagers are offered a wide variety of leisure time activities. By participating in these 
programs, young people choose scientific learning in preference to other after school 
occupations. 
Participation in the programs is voluntary and in most cases open to all Science-Oriented 
Youth. Our belief is that the intellectual curiosity displayed by the young person is itself a 
reliable indicator of his/her scientific abilities.
Youth from all social-economic layers of the Israeli society are represented in the 
extracurricular scientific programs, but not in the numbers appropriate to their proportion in 
the population. We hope that in the future, as more institutions join the network and financial 
resources increase, more students from peripheral areas and low income sectors will be able 
to enrich their world through  joining these programs. 
Some ten thousand pupils participate annually in our science clubs during after school hours 
and in our summer workshops during the summer vacation. An additional 25,000 pupils 
participate in science enrichment days during the school year. Many more are exposed to 
various activities such as popular scientific publications, science competitions, youth 
delegations to international events and more.

The instructors are scientists, members of the scientific community. Hence, they can 
share with the young students the latest progress and discoveries in their field of expertise.
The teaching attitudes of the researchers usually differ from those of school teachers. The 
syllabus is not dictated by an establishment, but it is left up to the instructors and the  
students. As attendance is limited to around 15 students per group, discussions among the 
students are encouraged. The enthusiasm of the instructors who are active researchers 
stimulates the youngsters to further scientific experiences.

THE INSTITUTIONS that take part in the extracurricular network of Science-Oriented 
Youth are the  Agriculture Research Organization - Volcani Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ben 
Gurion University of the Negev University, Center for Technological Education - Holon, 
Galilee Technological Center-Migal, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Technion - Israel 
Institute of Technology, Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute Of Science.  The 
Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports supports the activities. The Institutes of Research 
and Higher Learning together with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports are 
associated in the Committee for the Advancement of Science Education for the Youth, in order 
to coordinate and advance extracurricular science education. The research infrastructure of 
the host academic institutes gives the young people the taste of a real research environment.

FINANCIAL SPONSORING:
All Science-Oriented Youth programs are sponsored by three parties: the parents, Ministry of 
Education, Culture and Sports and the host institutes. In order to expand activities to low 
income sectors and geographically remote areas extra financing is needed.

THE PROGRAMS. The extracurricular science programs in Israeli universities and 
research centers are diverse. Each institution offers topics within its realm of expertise. The 
programs are directed and conducted by research scientists and graduate students. The 
activities  include weekly science clubs, summer science workshops, science enrichment 
days, science field school, research projects, science publications, scientific competitions, 
math-by-mail and more. 

Weekly Science Clubs. Students, 11-18 years of age, meet weekly during the academic 
school year, on the various campuses. Attendance is usually limited to 15 students per class. 
The syllabus is flexible and the learning material can be changed according to students’ and 
instructors’ interests. Usually the instructors involve their special area of scientific study in 
the dialogue with the students. The learning  activities include lectures, experiments, 
scientific films, instructed reading and discussions. 

Research Projects. Small teams of 1-4 students conduct research on a subject of their choice, 
under the supervision of scientists. The students get scientific as well as methodological 
guidance.

Science Enrichment Days are offered to 13-18 year old students who come to the institutions 
during the school year. The programs are composed of lectures, demonstrations and 
laboratory work.
The Science Mobile exports the science enrichment program of out of campus to schools and 
science clubs all over the country.
The Field School of Science is a science enrichment programs of 2-3 days for 9-12 grade 
classes. Exposure for a few days, including overnight stays, broadens and deepens the 
scientific experience, and acquaintance with the way science works. 

Summer Science Workshops. The summer  programs are similar to the weekly science clubs, 
but  are concentrated in 2-4 weeks on campus, during the summer vacation.

	Research Summer Camps for high school students are residential programs of 2-4 
weeks, which enable the participants to work in actual research laboratories of the academic 
institutions, mentored by active scientists. Thus the students get involved in real research. In 
the International Summer Science Camps Students from Israel and from abroad 
participate. 
	
	SPECIAL PROJECTS.
Math-by-mail is a unique program for 8-16 years old students. It enables math-enthusiastic 
youngsters to develop mathematical thinking and experience mathematics in creative and 
cheerful ways. Young students from all over Israel participate in the program.
Scientific Competitions in mathematics, in physics and in astrophysics are run for junior and 
high school students. A group of winners of the national Mathematics Olympiad participate 
in the International Olympiad and in a competition with Hungary.