About M&M
I suppose you're wondering just what the M&M program is all about. Let me start out by clarifying a misconception: This has nothing to do with small chocolate candies. M&M means math and marine science. Before you write us off as boring, give us a minute. The M&M program is a three-week program at UNH in - you guessed it - New Hampshire. In the beginning people stay at the houses of the Meekers or other local science and math related people. In the first week we do a lot of stuff, including learning about math and science, playing volleyball, starting projects, and swimming in the Meekers back yard. They have a waterfall!
On the last 2 days of the second week, everyone piles into a boat - the Gulf Challenger - and heads to the Isles of Shoals, Appledore Island to be exact. If you don't like birds, this is where you leave. There are literally thousands of gulls that nest there, and at about this time all their eggs have hatched. All this week we've been working on doing transects, which involves a lot of trips to the beach.
During the third week we stop doing transects (sigh of relief) and begin our final projects. We also move into the dorms this week (beware the dorm dragons!). Meanwhile, we are still playing volleyball about every other day. For these projects we ask a question, then do experiments to answer them. It's a lot more fun than it sounds, but you'd have to come here to see for yourself. On the last Saturday we all present our findings to our parents in one last assembly/lecture. The whole program is so fun, no one really wants to leave.
After the first three-week segment is over, there are three more meetings on weekends to check up on everyone. Some of us also arrange reunions with the whole group.
Everyone comes with interests in science, math or computers, and we all leave knowing a little more about our chosen field, as well as a little about the others (and some newly acquired volleyball skills). It's a very competitive program: in the 1996 group around 80 students applied, and only 26 got in, but it's definitely worth the chance.
A few extras included: We have a tee-shirt design contest and everyone gets shirts, we get books, and room and board (except on weekends) is only around $75. This way the program is for everyone, not just the socially elite. You get to meet a great mix of kids, and because of the selection process, they all are quite a bit alike. This also gives everyone 25 new friends that they can keep in touch with over the years (months, depending on how good you are at writing letters). This program is also a bonus on college applications, and helps in sophomore science and math classes. This program is really worth the three weeks and hey, you may not want to leave!
