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Pennsylvania

A Week With the Scientists at Penn State University

Program No. 14314RJ
Discover the science behind searching for planets, weather forecasting and materials used for energy through captivating discussions and exciting excursions with Penn State experts.

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6 days
5 nights
13 meals
5B 4L 4D
View Full Itinerary

At a Glance

The sky is not the limit on this learning adventure! Choose your week to study astronomy, meteorology, or material sciences, alongside some of the nation’s leading scientists at Penn State University. Behind-the-scenes excursions and expert-led discussions allow for the exploration of asteroid impacts, weather patterns, and the discovery, design and use of solid materials, while using the most cutting-edge technology the university has to offer. Learn about detecting black holes, discover how the universe was created, and gain a deep understanding of glass and ceramics with Penn State experts.
Activity Level
Easy Going
A trolley is available to transport participants from the hotel to the campus.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Learn about engaging topics like astronomy, meteorology and material sciences.
  • Spend a week on the Penn State University campus, attending lectures with university professors.
  • Step outside the classroom and view astronomical objects through a variety of telescopes, visit a TV weather studio to learn how to read radar and understand numerical weather prediction, or participate in 3D printing and building your own solar cell.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Jon M. Nese
Jon is associate head of undergraduate programs and a teaching professor in the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science at Penn State, where he teaches a variety of undergraduate courses. He was previously chief meteorologist at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and on-air storm analyst at The Weather Channel. He has co-authored two books: "The Philadelphia Area Weather Book," which received the 2005 Louis J. Battan Author’s Award from the American Meteorological Society, and a college-level introductory textbook, "A World of Weather: Fundamentals of Meteorology."

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Bill Syrett
Bill Syrett View biography
Bill Syrett was born in Bristol, Conn. and has been fascinated by weather that most people consider "bad" since he was five years old. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees in meteorology and was then hired by Penn State as a research assistant. In 1995 he began his tenure as the manager of Penn State's University Park weather observatory, now the Joel N. Myers Weather Center. In that position, he oversees the daily recording of official cooperative weather observations for State College, Penn.
Profile Image of Jon Nese
Jon M. Nese View biography
Jon is associate head of undergraduate programs and a teaching professor in the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science at Penn State, where he teaches a variety of undergraduate courses. He was previously chief meteorologist at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and on-air storm analyst at The Weather Channel. He has co-authored two books: "The Philadelphia Area Weather Book," which received the 2005 Louis J. Battan Author’s Award from the American Meteorological Society, and a college-level introductory textbook, "A World of Weather: Fundamentals of Meteorology."
Profile Image of Nolan Hines
Nolan Hines View biography
Nolan Hines is a native Ohioan, born on a farm just south of Columbus. He attended Ohio State University intending to become a veterinarian, the became involved in singing and theatre activities. He spent eight years on the ships of Holland America Line as an entertainer, excursion assistant, and cruise director, then four years aboard The American Queen steamboat. Nolan now lives in Florida and since 2017 has enjoyed discovering the treasures of new places and helping participants to enjoy cultural highlights with Road programs.
Profile Image of Stephanie Law
Stephanie Law View biography
Stephanie Law received her B.S. and Ph.D. in physics from Iowa State University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, respectively. She was employed as a postdoctoral researcher in electrical engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She joined the University of Delaware as the Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering in 2014, and joined the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State University in 2023. She is an associate editor for the Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology.
Profile Image of Chris Palma
Chris Palma View biography
Chris is a senior lecturer in astronomy/astrophysics at Penn State's University Park campus. He earned a BS with dual majors in astronomy/astrophysics and physics from Penn State in 1994 and a PhD in astronomy from the University of Virginia in 2001. Chris specializes in presenting the science of astronomy to audiences in a number of informal settings. Chris has co-taught Road Scholars on modern astronomy at Penn State and has also taught courses for seniors through the Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning in State College.
Profile Image of Kevin Luhman
Kevin Luhman View biography
Kevin Luhman received a B.A. in astronomy and a B.S. in physics from the University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Arizona. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and is now an associate professor at Penn State University. Kevin has used optical and infrared telescopes such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the Spitzer Space Telescope to study the birth of stars and planets.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.





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