Vanderbilt Summer Academy (VSA), offered by Vanderbilt University, provides a diverse array of courses designed for talented youth, focusing on various academic disciplines. The program offers an immersive, in-person learning experience that allows students to explore advanced topics under the guidance of experienced instructors. Participants can engage in fields such as biomedical research, nanoengineering, legal studies, and physics, gaining exposure to complex topics and cutting-edge techniques. The curriculum covers a wide range of subjects. In biomedical research, students delve into techniques like western blotting, PCR, and CRISPR, gaining practical skills and insights into a researcher's life. The nanoengineering course introduces students to the properties of nanoparticles, challenging them to solve problems with the assistance of Vanderbilt faculty and facilities. Legal studies explore different areas of law and the impact of technology on the legal field. Meanwhile, the physics course addresses fundamental principles and phenomena, from mechanics to optics, equipping students with a comprehensive understanding of the physical universe. The academy requires previous experience in specific areas, such as coding, to ensure participants are prepared for the course content. Instructors, like Greg Walker, Ph.D., and faculty from the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, bring extensive expertise and advanced degrees to the program, enriching the educational experience. By the end of the academy, students will have developed a scientific mindset, problem-solving skills, and an appreciation for the subjects they explore, preparing them for future academic and professional endeavors. Below is a list of courses offered this summer. Course descriptions, dates, costs, and instructor details can be found on the Pre-College Summer Sessions website. Below is a list of courses offered this summer. Course descriptions, dates, costs, and instructor details can be found on the Pre-College Summer Sessions website. Biodiversity at Risk: The Dynamics of Invasive Species Engineering the Human Body: From Health to Disease Finding Faults in Media: The Geology of Disaster Movies Intro to Python Coding Legal Studies: An Introduction to Torts and Civil Law The Psychology of Emotions: Exploring How We Feel and Embody Emotions The Secret Ingredients of Science Exploring the Human Mind: An Introduction to Psychological Research How to Become a Disease Detective: An Introduction to Epidemiology How to Change the World: Social Movements through the Lens of Political Anthropology Introduction to Endothelial Biology Intro to Songwriting and Creativity Medieval Europe: Transformation and Transition Pharmacology Unveiled: How Medications Work & Why They Matter Physics of Motion: From Cellular Proteins to Massive Aircrafts Creative Writing: Free Verse Poetry Fundamentals of Brain Imaging Nanoscience and Engineering The Art of Trial Law: Foundations of Legal Practice Water Quality and Human Health: Field Research and Analysis Audiology: Understanding the Journey of Sound Starting with Your Airpods Decoding the Human Genome Introduction to Virology: Understanding the Microscopic Titans Our Digital Lives: Rhetoric, Meaning, and Production in the Media World Mental Health in Context: An Introduction to Clinical Psychology Decoding Alzheimer’s Disease: From Molecules to Matter Doctor To Be: From Structure to Function, Dysfunction, Disease, and Treatment From 1 to 80 Billion: The Development of the Human Brain Introduction to Legal Studies: A Crash Course in Law Nature of Time: How Do We Interpret the Most Misunderstood Component of Reality? Young Composers Institute Anthropology in Action: How Ethnographic Research Is Applied to Advocacy Astrophysics: Exploration of Dark Matter Clinical Psychology: Cognitive-Behavioral Theory in Research and Application Computational Sociolinguistics: The Science of Speech and Society Exploratory and Graphical Data Analysis Exploring Biomedical Research Techniques: A Guide for Future Scientists Witchcraft and the Supernatural Electrical Engineering, Sensors, and Control Exploring Music City: Fandom and the Making of Nashville Exploring the Neural, Biological, and Experiential Bases of Selfhood Immunology: From Microbes to Cancer Law School 101 Med School 101 Physics in Life, Medicine, Engineering and Our Civilization Stories Worth Telling: Crafting Language for Social Change